Eastern may be changing its tuition rate for online courses so that out-of-state students would be charged in-state prices, a move in line with a university similar in size and budget.

Currently, tuition for online or distance learning courses is calculated exactly the same way as regular courses, Bob Augustine, interim assistant vice president for academic affairs for technology and dean of the Graduate School, said.

A proposal to change the way online courses are priced states that the rate would be determined without taking into account a student’s residency status.

The power to determine that rate is currently in the hands of Eastern’s Board of Trustees, but the revision also transfers that authority to Eastern’s president.

“We’re basically going to charge in-state tuition (for online courses),” interim President Lou Hencken said Thursday.

Eastern’s in-state undergraduate tuition rate is currently $99.75 per hour, and beginning this fall it will rise to $104.75 per hour.

At Western Illinois University, all tuition for online courses is charged by the credit hour at the in-state rate of $99.40 per hour for undergraduates and $108.15 per hour for graduate students, Eric Stiffler, Western’s vice president for academic affairs said.

He estimates that Western has charged by the credit hour for four or five years, and he said the Board of Trustees determines the rate.

Hencken said “most schools (he’s) heard of charge in-state tuition” for online courses regardless of residency.

Members of the Faculty Senate have raised concerns about making online courses cheaper and, therefore, more attractive to out-of-state, on-campus students.

Hencken said Eastern’s out-of-state population is less than 1 percent, and most of them establish Illinois residency within a semester or two anyway.

“I see where they (Faculty Senate) are coming from, but, on the other hand, if you charge out-of-state tuition, you could limit the number of people out of state who take online courses,” Hencken said.

If an out-of-state student registers to vote and gets an Illinois driver’s license, six months later they are considered Illinois residents, he said.

The BOT, which has heard the first reading of the proposal, will be able to vote on the issue at its next meeting.