Greenwood, SC – Lander University Freezes Tuition for Tenth Year
In a recent meeting held on December 19, 2024, in Greenwood, South Carolina, Lander University announced a significant milestone: the tuition freeze for in-state undergraduate students will continue for the tenth consecutive year. This decision means that students will maintain their annual tuition rate at $10,700 for the 2025-26 academic year, underscoring the university’s commitment to making education accessible and affordable.
Purpose Behind the Freeze
Richard Cosentino, president of Lander University, highlighted the importance of this initiative. He emphasized that freezing tuition allows students to concentrate on their studies and future career preparation. “We want to keep a high-quality education within reach for the thousands of students who attend,” Cosentino stated.
Financial Audit Results
During the meeting, Donald Lloyd, vice chairperson of the board of trustees, presented a comprehensive financial audit report for the 2023-24 fiscal year. He described the audit as exceptionally clean with no significant issues, a testament to the hard work of Lander’s finance team. “It is, quite frankly, an extraordinary audit in the history of the university,” Lloyd remarked.
Campus Development Projects
Trustees were also informed about ongoing and upcoming improvement projects across campus. Lander has 15 active projects, amounting to over $36.99 million. These projects are part of the Permanent Improvement Project provisions included in the state’s General Appropriation Bill. A significant portion of this funding, amounting to $8 million, was secured for the 2024-25 capital appropriations, aimed at renovating facilities, paving parking lots, and improving campus accessibility.
Accreditation and Academic Restructuring
The meeting also touched upon Lander University’s preparations for its ten-year reaffirmation of accreditation, scheduled for 2027. James Colbert, provost and vice president for academic affairs, explained that the university qualified for a differentiated review, only needing to address 40 standards instead of the usual 90-100 due to a flawless record over the past five years. On-site evaluations will take place from March 22-25, 2027.
In an effort to enhance academic offerings, Lander plans to streamline its structure by consolidating its six colleges into five by July 1, 2025. The revised structure will include the College of Nursing, Human Performance and Health Sciences, College of Business and Technology, College of Education, College of Science and Mathematics, and the College of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences.
Strategic Initiatives and AI Integration
The board also reviewed the university’s strategic goals, refining them down to six key pillars for the next five years. Important areas of focus include promoting academic excellence, advancing student success, and creating a culture of continuous improvement. An increasing emphasis on artificial intelligence (AI) was also noted, with plans to hire an AI coordinator to promote the technology’s integration across various programs and services.
Recently, Lander introduced an AI tool named Sammie, designed to assist in student recruitment by engaging prospective students through chat, emails, and phone calls. “This is a new way to target families to look at Lander, and we’re pretty excited about it,” said Todd Gambill, vice president for enrollment and access management.
Conclusion
The initiatives discussed during the board meeting highlight Lander University’s focus on maintaining affordability, enhancing campus facilities, and improving student outcomes, setting a positive precedent for future years.
