(A) Tuition promise
(1) The Miami university tuition promise is an Oxford campus, cohort-based, guaranteed undergraduate tuition program adopted in accordance with section 3345.48 of the Revised Code. Miami university's tuition promise provides all first-time students and their families the certainty that tuition, special purpose and course fees and room and board charges will not increase over the ensuing four academic year period from their first enrollment as a degree seeking student. The tuition promise will apply to all first-time, degree-seeking undergraduate students enrolling on the Oxford campus. Tuition and fees will be set annually for returning students on the Oxford campus, Miami's regional campuses, Luxembourg campus and for the voice of America center. Participation in the program is required for all first-time, degree-seeking undergraduate students enrolling on the Miami university Oxford campus for the first time in fall semester of 2016 or later.
(2) The four academic years of the tuition promise includes eight consecutive semesters, four winter and four summer terms. The four academic year term is guaranteed regardless of the student's enrollment status (full- or part-time or not enrolled) during that time.
(3) Tuition is set by the board of trustees each academic year and guaranteed for eight consecutive semesters for each entering cohort. Winter and summer terms are charged separately based on the guaranteed cohort per-credit-hour rate.
(B) Terms
(1) First-time student
A first-time student is any undergraduate, degree-seeking student enrolled on Miami university's Oxford campus for the first time on or after fall 2016. First-time students include students who enroll at Miami after graduating from high school, transfer students who enroll from another college or postsecondary institution, and non-traditional students who enroll on the Oxford campus for the first time. First-time students do not include non-degree-seeking students or conditionally admitted students such as students enrolled in the American culture and english (ace) program, college credit plus or advanced high school; exchange students; and other students participating in other pre-enrollment or postsecondary option programs.
(2) Returning students
Students enrolled at the Miami university Oxford campus prior to summer term 2016 and who are enrolled in fall term 2016 or later are considered returning students for purposes of assessing tuition and other fees and are not covered by the Miami tuition promise. Tuition and other fees are set annually by the board of trustees for these students.
(3) Cohort
(a) First-time students are assigned to a cohort (group) based on the semester in which the student first enrolls as a degree-seeking student. Each academic year contains one fall semester cohort and one spring semester cohort.
(i) Any Oxford campus degree-seeking, undergraduate student who is registered for classes for the first time as of the fifteenth day of the fall or spring term will be assigned to that cohort year for purposes of determining tuition, special purpose and course fees and room and board for the four academic years covered by the guaranteed cohort price. Each cohort commences with the first semester of enrollment and the pricing remains constant for four academic years ending with the term four years later (e.g., fall 2016 through summer 2020 or spring 2017 through winter 2021).
(ii) Students may complete as many undergraduate degrees, majors, minors, and/or certificates as they choose within their cohort period.
(iii) Students may enroll in graduate-level coursework for designated programs offered on the Oxford campus at their guaranteed tuition rate until their cohort period expires.
(4) Bachelor's degree
An undergraduate degree requires the completion of a minimum of one hundred twenty-eight semester credit hours. Bachelor's degree programs do not normally require more than one hundred forty-six semester credit hours to be awarded unless the additional coursework is required to meet professional accreditation or licensing requirements. Students completing degree programs requiring more than one hundred twenty-eight hours can request one extension of the guaranteed cohort period following the procedures outlined in paragraph (L) of this rule. A list of all bachelor degree programs can be viewed at http://miamioh.edu/academics/majors-minors/ and a list of those degrees requiring more than one hundred twenty-eight hours is provided in exhibit A to this rule.
(5) Tuition (instructional and general fee)
Tuition is the sum of the instructional fee and general fee. For non-Ohio-resident students, tuition also includes a tuition surcharge. Under the tuition promise, tuition is set each academic year for eight consecutive semesters for each entering fall and spring cohort. Winter and summer terms are charged separately based on the guaranteed cohort per-credit-hour rate.
(a) Instructional fee: These are the guaranteed instructional costs that first-time, degree-seeking students will pay. Non-Ohio-resident students also pay a tuition surcharge. Each incoming cohort is charged its unique, guaranteed resident or non-resident rate for eight consecutive semesters. Full-time students pay no additional tuition regardless of the number of hours enrolled. Part-time students pay instructional fees on a pro-rated, per-credit-hour basis.
(b) General fee: These are campus fees charged to all students for non-instructional services and programs on campus, such as orientation, health education and services, recreation, athletics, transportation, access to technology, graduation, the armstrong student center, other student-life facilities and student activities.
(6) Room and board charges
Room and board charges are the guaranteed rates for Miami's housing and meal plan options. Students pay a fee based on the housing and meal plan selected. The schedule of fees and options are guaranteed for each cohort for eight consecutive semesters. Miami university requires first- and second-year students to reside in university-provided housing and to purchase meal plans.
(7) Additional tuition promise guaranteed fees
(a) Special purpose fees: special purpose fees are additional per-semester charges that vary by college within the university and support specialized academic programs and instruction in that specific college (i.e., the college of engineering and computing major fees and the architecture, interior design and music major fees in the college of creative arts). These fees are charged as applicable and are guaranteed for each cohort.
(b) Course fees: course fees are per-credit-hour charges for certain courses or course-related costs and vary based on the course (e.g., the per-credit-hour Farmer school of business course fee, laboratory fees). These fees are charged as applicable and are guaranteed for each cohort.
(8) Charges and fines not included in the tuition promise
(a) Service charges and fines: These are charges and fines incurred by students such as vehicle registration and library and parking fines. These charges and fines will vary from year to year and are not included in Miami's tuition promise.
(b) Workshops, student health insurance, textbooks and supplies are not included in the tuition promise.
(C) Dissemination
The terms of the tuition promise, along with Miami university board of trustees' approved guaranteed cohort prices, will be widely disseminated including publication on the Miami university admission, one stop for student success services and other student service websites and in the Miami university policy library.
(D) Additional provisions
(1) Summer/winter term start
Students whose first enrollment is a summer or winter term will pay the continuing student/non-degree-seeking student tuition rate for the initial term, but will be assigned to the entering semester cohort that immediately follows. Summer start students are typically students who have confirmed their enrollment and will be matriculating for the first time for the fall semester immediately following the summer term. By being assigned to the following semester cohort, these students will receive the benefit of guaranteed tuition for four full years after completing the initial term.
(2) Students enrolled on both Oxford and regional campuses
In addition to students who take all of their credit hours during an academic year (fall, winter, spring or summer) on either the regional campuses or the Oxford campus, some students take classes at the regional campuses and the Oxford campus during the same semester or academic year. Historically, these students have been assessed the tuition applicable to the "campus of the student" for all credit hours taken. Miami university will continue to use the "campus of the student" to determine the tuition applicable for all hours enrolled by the student during an academic year.
(3) Exception for relocating students and students transferring from Ohio's public community and technical colleges. When a student transfers from one of Ohio's public community or technical colleges or relocates from one of Miami university's regional campuses to the Oxford campus, the student will be assigned to the lowest unexpired cohort for the duration of that cohort. The cohort will be assigned based on the earliest date of enrollment as a full-time undergraduate student at the qualifying institution. When the assigned cohort expires the student will automatically be placed into the cohort that went into effect the year after their assigned cohort (cohort plus one). The student will remain in that cohort for up to one year and if still enrolled after that cohort expires, will be placed into the next cohort (cohort plus two) for the next year and so on until the student is no longer enrolled. (Students admitted for college credit plus or other conditional admissions are not considered to be fully admitted).
If four or more academic years have elapsed since the student's first date of enrollment as a full-time undergraduate student at the qualifying institution, the student transferring from one of Ohio's public community or technical colleges or relocating from one of Miami university's regional campuses will be assigned to the oldest unexpired cohort on the Oxford campus.
For Oxford campus students relocating to the regional campuses, these students will pay the current tuition and other fees in effect on the regional campuses. These students may relocate back to the Oxford campus at any time and pay tuition and other fees associated with their original cohort.
(4) Non-degree students
Students admitted or enrolled as nondegree-seeking students (students who are not pursuing an undergraduate degree or have not been admitted as a degree-seeking student at Miami university) are not covered by the tuition promise and will not be assigned to a cohort unless the student is subsequently admitted and enrolls as a degree-seeking student. Tuition for these students will continue to have their tuition and fees set annually by the board of trustees. This includes non-degree-seeking students or conditionally admitted students such as students enrolled in the American culture and English (ace) program, college credit plus or advanced high school; exchange students; and other students participating in other pre-enrollment or postsecondary option programs. Once a student is admitted as a first-time, degree seeking student, the student will be assigned to the cohort based on the semester in which the student first enrolled as a degree-seeking student.
(5) Re-enrolling students
Re-enrolling students who were admitted in a degree seeking program prior to fall 2016 are not covered by the tuition promise and will pay tuition and fees associated with the traditional tuition model.
When a student originally assigned to a cohort seeks to re-enroll after any period of non-attendance and not more than four academic years have elapsed since the student's initial degree-seeking enrollment, then the student will be assigned to the student's original cohort for the balance of the cohort period. If four or more academic years have elapsed, then the reenrolling student is assigned to the oldest unexpired cohort on the Oxford campus.
(E) Exceptions to standard length of cohort
The Miami university tuition promise is for four academic years commencing with either the fall or spring semester. Some students may require additional academic periods beyond the four academic years to complete their baccalaureate degree and will continue to attend the Oxford campus beyond their cohort period. When certain exceptions are met (as described in paragraph (L) of this rule) students may extend their guaranteed cohort price beyond their guaranteed cohort period. A student must apply for an exception no later than one semester prior to the expiration of their cohort. Students with approved exceptions will be granted additional courses at their guaranteed cohort price. The specific courses or length of the exception will be determined as part of any approval.
(F) Academic costs included in the Miami university tuition promise
(1) Tuition (instructional and general fee) fees
Tuition is the sum of the instructional fee and general fee. For non-Ohio resident students, tuition also includes a tuition surcharge. Under Miami's tuition promise, tuition is set each academic year and guaranteed for eight consecutive semesters for each entering cohort. Winter and summer terms are charged separately based on the guaranteed cohort per-credit-hour rate.
(a) Instructional fee: These are the guaranteed, instructional costs that all first-time, degree-seeking students will pay. Non-Ohio resident students will also pay a tuition surcharge. Each incoming cohort is charged its unique, guaranteed resident or non-resident rate for eight consecutive semesters. Full-time students pay no additional tuition regardless of the number of hours enrolled. Part-time students pay instructional fees on the cohort pro-rated, per-credit-hour basis. The tuition promise does not include workshops.
(b) General fee: These are campus fees charged to all students for non-instructional services and programs on campus, such as recreation, athletics, transportation, technology, the armstrong student center, other student-life facilities and student activities.
(c) Special purpose fees: special purpose fees are additional per-semester fees that vary by college within the university and support specialized academic programs and instruction in that specific college (i.e., the college of engineering and computing major fees and the architecture, interior design and music major fees in the college of creative arts). These fees are charged as applicable and are guaranteed for each cohort.
(d) Course fees: course fees are per-credit-hour fees for certain courses or course-related costs and vary based on the course (e.g., the per-credit-hour Farmer school of business course fee, laboratory fees). These fees are charged as applicable and are guaranteed for each cohort.
(G) Other student costs included in the Miami university tuition promise
The goal of the tuition promise is to provide a comprehensive set of costs for completing an undergraduate degree at Miami university. The following costs are also included in the Miami university tuition promise:
(1) Housing rates (room)
The tuition promise includes a guaranteed price schedule for housing that represents the various housing options available to undergraduate students. The rate charged to the student is based upon the student's selected or assigned residence type, (e.g., single room, double room, triple occupancy, new construction and renovated hall). If a student changes from one room or hall type to another during the cohort period, the housing rate charged to the student will be adjusted based on the guaranteed price schedule that is in effect throughout the student's cohort period. Student requests to reside in on-campus housing beyond the second year are subject to room availability. If space is available for a student who has already met the residency requirement, the established cohort rate schedule for student rooms continues throughout the period covered by the guaranteed cohort price.
(2) Meal plan rates (board)
The tuition promise includes a number of meal plan options from which the student may choose depending on whether the student is residing on- or off- campus. A meal plan is required for students residing in university housing. A cohort menu of meal plans and rates is included as part of the cohort pricing and the actual meal plan cost will be based on the meal plan selected by the student. While the meal plan price will remain guaranteed during the cohort period, individual meal items and merchandise in retail locations are subject to price changes.
(H) Other student costs not included in the Miami university tuition promise
All other fees, fines, and costs related to attending Miami university not specifically identified as part of the tuition promise are excluded from the guaranteed cohort price and are subject to price changes. These exclusions include credit workshops, student health insurance and textbooks. While such costs are excluded, Miami university will seek to limit increases to the extent feasible.
(I) Cohort pricing beyond the initial year
(1) Once the initial cohort tuition is established, subsequent cohort increases in tuition will be based on the following:
(a) The average rate of inflation, as measured by the consumer price index prepared by the bureau of labor statistics of the United States department of labor (all urban consumers, all items), for the previous sixty-month period; and
(b) The percentage amount the Ohio general assembly restrains increases on in-state undergraduate instructional and general fees for the applicable fiscal year. If the general assembly does not enact a limit on the increase of in-state undergraduate instructional and general fees, then no limit shall apply under this section for the cohort that first enrolls in any academic year for which the general assembly does not prescribe a limit.
(c) This rate of increase will be benchmarked against other state of Ohio four year residential research institutions' four-year rolling cost averages to account for the impact of the cohort pricing model on tuition changes. If Miami university's cohort tuition for Ohio residents falls significantly below these institutions, Miami university may elect to submit for approval by the chancellor of the department of higher education an increase in the forthcoming cohort tuition pricing in excess of the stated limitation for Ohio residents.
(2) Other increases in cohort pricing, including the non-resident tuition surcharge, special purpose fees, course fees and room and board charges are not subject to the pricing formula set forth in this rule and will be determined by the Miami university board of trustees.
(J) Students who stop out/withdraw and return
If a student takes a leave, withdraws, or is judicially suspended from the university for one or more academic semesters, the four academic year period covered by the guaranteed cohort price will not be extended. As a result, the student will lose the term(s) of eligibility while absent within the four academic year cohort period. When the student reenrolls, if four academic years have not lapsed since the student's initial degree-seeking enrollment, then the student will be charged the guaranteed rate based on his or her original cohort for the balance of the cohort period. If four or more academic years have passed, then the reenrolling student is assigned to the oldest unexpired cohort on the Oxford campus (as defined in paragraph (K) or this rule).
(K) Students who require longer than their cohort period to graduate
Students who do not complete their undergraduate degree requirements and are not eligible for an exception (as defined in this rule) by the end of their assigned cohort term, will automatically be placed into the cohort that went into effect the year after their assigned cohort (cohort plus one). The student will remain in that cohort for up to one year and if still enrolled after that cohort expires, will be placed into the next cohort (cohort plus two) for the next year and so on until the student is no longer enrolled.
(L) Exceptions for students who require more than four years
There will be some students who will take more than four academic years to graduate due to circumstances beyond their control. No later than one semester prior to the expiration of their guaranteed cohort term, a student may request, an extension of their guaranteed cohort price. Each case will be evaluated on its own merits to determine whether an extension should be granted and if so, the nature and duration of any extension.
(1) A tuition promise appeals committee will evaluate requests for exceptions. The appeal must fall within extenuating circumstances established by the appeals committee as described in this paragraph.
(a) If the appeals committee finds that the student cannot complete the degree program within the four academic years of the student's cohort due solely to a lack of available classes or space in classes provided by the university, the university will provide the student with an opportunity to take the necessary course or courses without requiring the payment of tuition.
(b) Other circumstances will be considered for an extension of the guaranteed cohort price beyond the four academic years depending on the validity and impact of the circumstances including:
(i) Enrollment in a degree program requiring more than one hundred twenty-eight hours to graduate
(ii) Illness or injury
(iii) Disability that necessitates a reduced course load as a reasonable accommodation
(iv) Medical leave of absence
(v) Victim of interpersonal violence or crime while enrolled
(c) If the appeals committee determines that the student has provided sufficient documentation of extenuating circumstances that was outside the control of the student and prevented the student from completing the student's program of study during the assigned cohort period, the committee will determine the appropriate period of time or number of courses to extend the guaranteed cohort price.
(2) Any student called to military service in the United States armed services will be given an automatic extension of their guaranteed cohort price based upon the number of academic terms impacted by the student's active duty absence.
(M) Graduate courses
Students may enroll in graduate-level coursework for designated programs offered on the Oxford campus at their guaranteed tuition rate until their cohort period expires. Students pursuing this option must meet all university requirements for admission to the program or to enroll in such courses. Following the expiration of their original cohort, tuition for graduate level coursework will be assessed at the current Oxford campus graduate student rate applicable to the program of study.