We might actually be able to swipe our friends into Hewitt now?

The Barnard news just starts coming and doesn’t stop coming today. Interim President Rob Goldberg and Dean Avis Hinkson sent out an email to the student body early this afternoon with updates on the college’s tuition and meal plan for the 2017-2018 school year.

The tuition for the upcoming year has been raised to a total of $68,762, which is $2,770 more than this year’s rate. Goldberg and Hinkson wrote that the raised price reflects paying faculty and staff, funding financial aid, funding union contracts, and implementing changes associated with the new contingent-faculty union agreement. Of this total figure, $52,662 is the tuition fee, $1,780 is the comprehensive fee, $9,510 is the multiple room price (while single rooms are $11,038 and studio singles are $16,480), and $6,590 is the Platinum first-year meal plan price.

The Barnard meal plan is not facing a chance nearly as great as last year’s (when the Diana was opened for dinner and Barnard students were given access to JJ’s Place), but a change is still occurring: additional “guest swipes” will be added to all meal plans, as a means of combating food insecurity and building community. The email did not specify how exactly these swipes will function or in which dining halls Barnard students will be able to use them.

Goldberg and Hinkson concluded their email with a note that the Barnard administration “understand[s] that rising costs present a burden to many students and their families”, but “annual increases are unfortunately necessary for Barnard to improve the quality of the educational experience and to continue to be the most selective women’s college in the country.”

Dear Students,

We are writing to let you know that the Barnard Board of Trustees has approved the 2017-2018 rates for tuition, fees, room, and board. We know that any increase can be difficult for many of our families, so we wanted to take a moment to explain the details and our approach.

Tuition and Fees for 2017-2018

For the upcoming academic year, the total rate for tuition, fees, a multiple room and board will be $68,762—an increase of $2,770 from this year’s rates. As in past years, this price reflects the growing costs associated with recruiting and retaining our faculty and staff, fully funding financial aid and maintaining our commitment to need-blind admissions, implementing the new curriculum, funding the costs of our union contracts, including the new contingent faculty union, and expanding a variety of services to meet the needs of our community.

The breakdown of the total cost is as follows:

• Tuition and the comprehensive fee will cost $52,662, including $50,882 for tuition and $1,780 for the comprehensive fee.

• The price for multiple rooms will be $9,510. Rates for single rooms will be $11,038, and the rate for studio apartments will be $16,480.

• The price for the Platinum meal plan (19 meals per week) will be $6,590.

Meal Plan Changes

Last year we expanded several dining services, including first-time access for Barnard students to JJ’s Place, opening The Diana second floor dining room for dinner, and linking meal services to the opening of residence halls. These services will continue during the coming year. In addition, in response to student concerns about food insecurity, and to encourage community building, there will be additional “guest” swipes added for all meal plans.

We understand that rising costs present a burden to many students and their families. We take the impact on our students seriously and are doing all we can to relieve pressure on tuition by seeking to raise private funding as part of our capital campaign, the Bold Standard, and controlling costs without sacrificing the quality of services that we provide our community. However, given that tuition, fees, room, and board still represent our single largest source of revenue, annual increases are unfortunately necessary for Barnard to improve the quality of the educational experience and to continue to be the most selective women’s college in the country.

All the best,
Rob Goldberg, Interim President and Chief Operating Officer
Avis Hinkson, Dean of the College

Hewitt via 2009 Bwog