The Board of Trustees announced today that tuition for the 2010-2011 academic year will increase at University Park by 4.5 percent for non-resident students and 5.6 percent for those living in Pennsylvania; commonwealth campuses will see an increase of 3.9 percent. According to Penn State Live this will result in a $404 increase for “in-state lower-division students” and $571 for their out-of-state classmates.

The increase is part of the new $4 Billion budget passed by the board at their July meeting on the DuBois campus. By cutting the budget down by $12 million and increasing non-tuition income by $1.4 million, the Board believes that they were able to avoid an additional 1.4 percent increase to tuition.

President Spanier said that the new budget will allow for faculty and staff pay increases to be reinstated. Spanier believes the pay increases will help “maintain the University’s competitive position and to help our employees through these challenging times.”

Dr. Spanier also announced at the meeting that the University is planning on changing the date of the 2012 Spring Commencement, placing it the weekend immediately following finals, in order to “bring Penn State into line with a majority of the schools in the Big Ten, where similar schedules are in place.” The move will save money by allowing the dorms and dining commons to be closed a week earlier. It it is the opinion of many, however, that the University is looking to eliminate the gigantic party known as “Senior Week.”

While this move will likely cause some consternation among non-seniors (who will still be able to partake in the event) it is unlikely that it will result in any decrease in partying, as most students will probably just wait until after the ceremony to begin their day drinking and bar tours.