The Academic Council of the Industrial University of Santander decided to maintain the academic enrollment process for the 2026-1 semester, even if students have not paid their tuition fees, as a temporary measure in response to the significant increase in the current legal minimum wage.
The decision seeks to mitigate the economic impact of the 23% increase in tuition fees for students who do not receive subsidies. This was explained by the administrative and financial vice-rector of the UIS, Gerardo Latorre Bayona, who pointed out that “thinking of those who do not have a subsidy to pay their tuition fees, for whom the 23% increase in the cost of tuition may be significant enough to cause them concern, the Academic Council of the Industrial University of Santander decided to propose a draft agreement to the Higher Council, seeking to limit the increase in tuition fees to 7.1%.”
While this initiative is being analyzed by the Superior Council, the only body authorized to define the institution’s financial rights, the Academic Council has authorized academic enrollment to proceed according to the established calendar. “For the time being, students will be able to enroll normally until the adjustment is made,” said the vice-chancellor.
Latorre Bayona explained that the final validity of academic enrollment will be conditional upon payment of the financial enrollment fee once the new amount has been defined. “Academic enrollment will take place according to the schedule, even if the person has not yet been able to pay the financial enrollment fee; that academic enrollment will be confirmed once the new enrollment fee has been defined and the person has paid it,” he said.
The director recalled that the Superior Council will hold a special session in the coming days to analyze the adjustment proposal. “We hope that this meeting will take place this week and, in the meantime, given that an additional deadline for tuition payment has been set for January 28, it was considered appropriate to allow this flexibility so that the semester can proceed normally,” he added.
As for students who have already paid their tuition fees, the vice-chancellor was emphatic that they will not be affected. “It is possible that some people have already made an extra effort and paid the fees; if the Governing Council approves the proposed adjustment, those people will be refunded the difference they have paid,” he said.
Finally, the University called on the university community to stay informed only through official channels. “We invite you to stay tuned to the institutional website and official social media accounts; through these channels, the University will promptly report the decisions made by the Higher Council, so that families can rest assured that the semester will proceed as normal,” concluded Latorre Bayona.
“as normal,” he added.
