Rutgers lowers campus fee for upcoming semester

University President Jonathan Holloway announced a 15 percent reduction in the campus fee for the Fall 2020 semester, amounting to approximately $300 off the term bills of each full-time undergraduate student, according to a University-wide email sent yesterday.

Holloway said the move, which was made with the guidance of Chief Financial Officer Michael Gower, was in response to community input and financial strain caused by the coronavirus disease pandemic. The Daily Targum previously reported the Board of Governors froze the costs of tuition, housing, dining and mandatory fees for the upcoming school year, but Holloway originally said they would not be lowered any further because the University is also facing financial challenges.

"(Freezing tuition and fees) has had consequences, as our budget for the 2020-2021 fiscal year forecasts a shortfall of (approximately) $160 million," he said, according to the email. "We have already been forced to take drastic measures, including furloughs, to keep our people employed and maintain our academic mission."

The Targum reported the campus fee covers health services, recreation centers, student centers, student events and concerts, campus buses and athletics.

"While this fee supports many vital aspects of University operations that continue to function, like library resources and student services, I have asked for its reduction both in recognition of the financial hardship that many of our families are facing and to better reflect for this semester the services and resources that this fee traditionally has funded," Holloway said, according to the email.

Holloway said tuition helps the University pay professor salaries and did not mention any plans to lower the cost of attendance further. The Targum previously reported a Change.org petition was created to advocate for a reduction in tuition due to online classes, which as of today has approximately 29,300 signatures.