No tuition hike at Cumberland

For the first time in the school’s history, Cumberland University is not increasing tuition rates, but the school is adding additional community resources.

Students enrolling this fall will pay the same tuition rate as last year. Officials made the announcement this week following a meeting of the Board of Trust where members considered tuition rates for the 2013-14 academic year.

In response to growing concerns about affordability and costs across the nation, the university has taken a wide range of actions aimed at maximizing resources, managing or reducing operating costs, and tackling debt students incur, while still adding value to a Cumberland education.

The tuition freeze comes just as the university is wrapping up the largest number of campus improvement and enhancement projects in school history.

“I believe these actions reflect the type of institution Cumberland really is,” said Harvill Eaton, president of Cumberland University. “This sends a clear message that we are committed to our students and their families by providing a quality education that is affordable and the best possible value.”

In 2012, the school opened a 152-bed residence hall and the Center for Online and Professional Studies in Mt. Juliet. School and community leaders gathered at the Mt. Juliet Center Thursday for the facility's official ribbon-cutting ceremony.

The Mt. Juliet Center is a 7,500-square-foot facility just off of Interstate 40 at Providence that serves as the university’s headquarters for the growing online and adult nursing programs. The facility will serve as the headquarters for online learning and will provide off-campus facilities for Cumberland’s nursing, criminal justice, and Master of Science in Public Service Management, and other programs in the health professions and business.

This spring, the university will unveil the new Learning and Career Commons, a facility designed to extend learning outside of the classroom and support student success. The LCC will provide students with career training services, resume writing assistance, and behavioral instruction. Additionally, students will be able to interview professionals in their field at the building, gaining working knowledge about their particular major before leaving the university.

Students will also soon see improvements to current program offerings and new offerings will be introduced later this year. All of these efforts are designed to make students more competitive in their fields of choice.