SALT LAKE CITY — Three of Utah's universities will help their students this fall by giving them big discounts on student fees as the COVID-19 pandemic continues.
The University of Utah and Utah State University—Utah's two research universities—are each discounting student fees by $150. Southern Utah University will discount student fees by 40 percent, saving the average full-time student about the same amount.
“We are sensitive to the fiscal challenges faced by our students at this time,” said Mark Winter, U of U's associate vice president for budget in a news release. “As a public institution, the university works to operate as closely to actual costs as possible, and we are committed to work diligently to keep those costs as low as possible in the interest of helping students stay in school and complete their degrees.”
For USU, the full discount will apply only to students who attend the main campus in Logan. The university will provide $95 discounts for students at USU's other campuses around the state.
“I know that the experiences provided by attending a research university come with higher costs, and we also know that times have been economically tough for many of our students this summer,” said USU President Noelle Cockett in a news releasde. “For this reason, I felt it was important to do something that shows we care deeply about the challenges our students face."
At each of the universities, student fees go toward things like athletics, building upkeep, student health programs, technology equipment and transportation costs.
“The University is committed to keeping the campus as safe as possible for all students, faculty, staff, and community members,” said SUU President Scott L Wyatt. “We are also committed to helping students finish their degrees during this financially difficult time. We have been very careful with our budgets and can manage this fee reduction for one semester in order to help our students and their families who are supporting them.”
