ON INCREASING THE TUITION OF STUDENTS FROM OTHER STATES. Submitted June 23, 1863. The Finance Committee, having been directed by resolution of the Board of Regents of the 26th of March last, “to examine into and report upon the expediency of raising the amount of matriculation fees and annual dues required to be paid by the students and resident graduates who are citizens of the United States, but not residents of this State; and also whether those who are not citizens or residents of the United States should not be required to pay more than citizens and residents of the United States," submit the following report: The Committee are aware that the subject referred to them has not only oc cupied the attention of members of the Board of Regents, but that it has occupied the thoughts of the people of Michigan, and that it has more than once been made use of before the Legislature of the State to the prejudice of the University, and for the purpose of securing legislation unfriendly to it. We are aware too that a great variety and wide diversity of opinions exist upon this subject among the people of the State; some of which, though they may not be well informed, are still potential for mischief. We therefore approach the subject with diffidence in our own opinions, and with a sincere desire to furnish what materials we can to enable the Board of Regents to form an enHightened judgment upon this important subject. This matter early engaged the attention of the present Board of Regents, and induced them, at their first meeting in January, 1858, to call upon the several Professors for their opinions in relation to it, which were presented to the Board at their meeting in March, 1858. A few of the Professors favored a discrimination in favor of Michigan students, but a large majority of the Professors were averse to any discrimination, though most of them favored an annual charge for incidental expenses; this resulted in a tax of five dollars per annum being charged to each student, without reference to his residence, to defray the expenses of warming, cleaning, etc. There are three sections of the act of the Legislature of this State to provide for the government of the State Uhiversity, etc., bearing upon the question submitted to your Committee, which are contained in volume I. of the Compiled Laws, at page 712, being sections 9, 12, and 13, of that act, and of the Compiled Laws (2191), (2194), and (2195); they are also to be found in the printed By-Laws, at pages and 6, and read as follows: SEC. 9. The Regents shall provide for the arrangement and selection of a course or courses of study in the University for such students as may not desire to pursue the usual collegiate course in the Department of Literature, Science and the Arts, embracing the ancient languages; and to provide for the admission of such students without previous examination as to their attainments in said languages; and for granting such certificates at the expiration of such course or term of such students, as may be appropriate to their respective attainments. SEC. 12. The fee of admission to the regular University course in the Department of Literature, Science and the Arts, shall not exceed ten dollars; but such course or courses of instruction as may be arranged under the provisions of section 9 of this act, shall be open without fee to the citizens of this State. SEC. 13. The University shall be open to all persons resident of this State, without charge of tuition, under the regulations prescribed by the Regents; and to all other persons under such regulations and restrictions as the Board may prescribe. If the words "to the citizens of this State," at the end of section 12, are to be understood as applicable only to the second clause of the section which imimediately precedes them, and which refers to students entering the select or partial course, then the Regents can not legislate in regard to the admission or matriculation fee in the Department of Literature, Science and the Arts, and it must remain as fixed by law, and as it now is, at ten dollars. But if by a fair construction of that section, all its provisions are designed for "the citizens of this State," then the whole question presented by the resolution is open for examination. As the resolution of the Board by which this subject is referred to your Committee seems to assume that the Regents may raise the amount of the admission fee as well as of the annual dues, and that your Committee are merely to report upon the expediency of doing so, we might refrain entirely from an examination of the legal question, and confine ourselves to the one of expediency; and yet, if all things that are lawful are not expedient, can things that are not lawful be deemed expedient? No one can wish to prohibit young men from coming to the University and enjoying its advantages who desire knowledge which they cannot obtain elsewhere, and who are qualified by moral character and attainments to enter it. And is there not some danger that if these charges shall be raised they will most seriously affect the poor young men, and be most likely to work a prohibition with them? With young men who have means, it will be a mere question of economy and interest, and they will come here if they can get more for their money than they can elsewhere, even if the charge shall be raised. Not so with the indigent young man; he must go where his means will permit him to go. If we discriminate in favor of Michigan students, why is it? Is it because we expect them to remain in the State after they shall be educated, and that thus the State may be compensated by enjoying the benefit of their education and their knowledge? Is it by any means certain that they will remain in the State, or any more certain than that those who come from other States will remain here and become our fellow citizens? If the proposed change is to work a prohibition to some, and thus reduce the number of students, and if a reduction of numbers is desirable, would it not be more creditable to the University, more honorable to the State, and better for our race, to reduce the number by elevating the standard of attainments essential for admission? If, however, it is the duty of the Regents to make the proposed change, unpleasant though it be, and satisfactory reasons exist for it, as the guardians of the important interests involved in the success or failure of the University, we may not shrink from the duty imposed upon us, let us therefore, before proceeding further, examine the existing facts bearing upon this subject. The following table, compiled from the catalogues for the years 1858, 1859, 1860, 1861, 1862, and 1863, shows the total number of students in attendance at the University in each of those years, the number from the State of Michigan, the number from other States, and the number from places out of the United States: Table Showing the Number of Students in Attendance at the University from 1858 to 1863, Inclusive. *This includes only such students as are engaged in this study exclusively, and as are not connected with any other Derartment. From this table it appears that during the last six years there has been an 9 |