Conservative student group slams university for holding tuition increase vote 150 miles from main campus

A conservative student group is criticizing Texas A&M University for holding a vote on whether to increase tuition nearly 150 miles from the main campus.

The Texas A&M University System Board of Regents will hold the vote today in Galveston, home of the university’s marine and maritime studies, 147 miles from the main campus in College Station. The Texas Aggie Conservatives (TAC), a conservative student group, is arguing that the university is holding the vote on the coast in order to increase financial aid—State law requires that a portion of Texas students’ tuition go towards providing financial assistance for other students—and has failed to sufficiently notify students.

In a press release, TAC states that each tuition increase vote since 2006 has taken place in College Station during March or May. Moreover, the group says the university only attempted to collect feedback during finals period and winter break and did not send out a mass email to campus detailing the proposed tuition change.

"The university held one hearing during study days for finals with two days notice, and that was it. Nothing else was done to inform students about the tuition increase,” the group said.

According to KBTX, Texas A&M tuition was $4,542 in the fall of 2012, a figure which puts it in the middle of the pack for public universities in the state. The proposed tuition hike would see a freshman in the fall of 2015 pay $250 more per semester than current freshmen.

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