Appeals Court rules Md. students unable to fight university system tuition increase

The Maryland Court of Appeals upheld yesterday a ruling rejecting an attempt by University System of Maryland students to challenge a midyear tuition increase assessed at short notice during the winter break last year.

The students had sued in Baltimore Circuit Court to block the 5 percent tuition increase, arguing that colleges were violating a contract with students by charging more for the spring semester than advertised.

The appeals court agreed with the lower court that tuition rates listed on bills at the start of the school year didn't amount to a contract. It also agreed that the system, as a state agency, is immune to most lawsuits.