Africa University sets budget; some students protest
5/6/1998 News media contact: Linda Green · (615) 742-5470 · Nashville, Tenn by United Methodist News Service A perceived increase in tuition by some students at United Methodist-related Africa University in Zimbabwe led to a small student protest during the April board meeting of the university's board of directors.
The board of directors had wrapped up its annual meeting at the university in Mutare on April 24 with the approval of a budget of $4.2 million in American dollars or Z$66 million for the 1998-99 academic year. The budget, effective July 1, is the largest for the United Methodist-related institution to date. It covers operating costs for the period from July 1, 1998 to June 30, 1999; and planned investment in computer equipment and library resources and other items.
Africa University, which opened in 1992, is the first fully accredited private institution of higher learning in Zimbabwe. It is the only United Methodist-related, degree-granting university on the continent. More than 560 students from 15 African countries are currently enrolled, and an additional 260 more will begin classes in August.
According to James Salley, assistant vice chancellor for institutional advancement with offices in Nashville, Tenn., the board of directors decided to freeze basic undergraduate fees for the upcoming academic year at $3500 in U.S. dollars; the same level set by the board in April 1997. The University set the exchange rate of US$1 to Z$15 for the entire 1998-1999 academic year despite ongoing negative pressure on the value of the Zimbabwean dollar.
Salley said because of the devalued Zimbabwean dollar, students from Zimbabwe saw the $3500 tuition cost as a fee increase. During the 1997-98 academic year, $3500 equaled $38,000 in Zimbabwean dollars. "This year if you use the exchange of $1US to Z$15, that equates to Z$52,000," he said. "This is not an increase," he said. "The board froze the fees in order to assist the students," he said.
During the board's meeting, students were reminded that the devalued Zimbabwean dollar not only affects Zimbabwean students, but students from other countries as well. In discussions with the students, Africa University's Chancellor and Chairman of the Board Bishop Emilio de Carvalho noted that the University was aware of and sensitive to the economic hardships facing families in many African countries.
In spite of discussion and explanation, some Zimbabwean students advised the institution on April 20 of a class boycott to protest the fees. Salley said several students sat in the streets blocking the exit of the board members. "Police were called and the students immediately disbursed themselves. No one was injured," he said.
According to de Carvalho, Africa University is "committed to doing all that we can to find more money for scholarships and financial aid for our students." He said a critical element of the institution's mission to train and nurture new leadership for Africa "is to make sure that there is always room at this institution for young people from families that are unable, because of their circumstances, to pay the full fees."
Africa University is growing and so is its impact both locally and internationally, Salley said. "The dream of increased access to higher education for African young people is being realized at Africa University because of the funds, prayers and other support we get primarily from United Methodists in the United States." United Methodists contribute more than 95 percent of the university's operating budget.
In the 1997-98 academic year, Africa University awarded more than Z$3 million in financial aid and scholarships to its students. Within the budget for the next academic year, the board approved an additional Z$1.5 million in financial support for students. The total available for needy students is more than Z$4.5 million for 1998-99.
According to Rukudzo Murapa, who will be installed as the university's new president in November, every student at the university "enjoys a large subsidy because our fees are set way below the actual cost of educating a student." The actual cost of educating a student at Africa University is $9,000.
However, he said, the university must set its fees at a level which allows students who can pay to make a contribution to the cost of their education.
"While we recognize that inflation, currency depreciation and other factors are having a very negative impact on the buying power of the average African family; as a private international institution, we must organize ourselves and operate in a fiscally sound manner," he said.
Major priorities for the upcoming year include the launch of the university's fifth academic discipline-Humanities and Social Sciences-and the development of outreach projects to take the university's programs continent-wide.
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Andra Stevens, director of information at Africa University, contributed to this report.
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