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Public hearing draws student and community opposition to proposed 2.9% tuition increase
Summary
At a public hearing April 22, students and community members urged the William & Mary Board of Visitors to reject a recommended 2.9% undergraduate tuition and mandatory-fees increase; university officials presented the FY27 operating budget alongside the pricing strategy.
Rector Charles Poston opened a public hearing on tuition pricing at 5:15 p.m. on April 22, where EVP and COO Mike Todd presented the university’s 2026–28 undergraduate tuition and mandatory-fees recommendations and an overview of the FY27 operating budget.
Several community members and students spoke during the hourlong hearing, expressing opposition to the proposed increase. Student Assembly President Zoe Wang told the Board that students are focused on affordability and surveillance concerns on campus; Wang said April referenda showed “strong student support for canceling university contracts with Flock and ZeroEyes, and for a 'Firewall for Freedom.'” The hearing adjourned at 6:15 p.m.
Board members heard the public comments ahead of later deliberations in the Board's Committee on Financial Affairs. The presentation framed the tuition proposal as a two-year pricing decision meant to provide predictability for families; President Katherine Rowe said the Board and administration are “prioritizing affordability while sustaining the university's mission.”
Next steps: the Board’s Committee on Financial Affairs reviewed the tuition proposal and later presented Resolution 11-R for full-Board consideration and vote.
