Regents raise tuition again
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No comments [ Add Comment ]By Amy K. Stewart
Standard-Examiner staff
Repeated increases give some cause for concern
LOGAN -- The State Board of Regents approved a 4 percent Tier 1 tuition increase recommendation for 2008-2009 for Utah's nine colleges and universities during its meeting in Logan on Friday.
Tier 1 tuition is set by the state in the fall. The regents approved recommending the increase across the board to all state higher education institutions.
Tier 2 tuition is proposed by individual colleges and universities. It varies from school to school. These increases are presented to the regents for approval in the spring.
Last fall, the regents raised tuition by 4 percent.
Last spring, Utah State University and Weber State University each added a 3 percent increase for their Tier 2 tuition.
With the 7 percent total increase, tuition at USU this school year is $3,614 for a full-time resident freshman.
Weber State's tuition this school year is $2,989, for a full-time resident undergraduate student.
Tier 1 tuition is meant to cover the required institutional share of the compensation package that will be funded by the Legislature during the 2008 General Session.
The regents have raised Tier 1 tuition by 4 percent for several years in a row.
Regent Nolan Karras, of Roy, reminded the regents of that during discussions before the vote at Friday's meeting.
"I've been uncomfortable with the increases we've had the last four, five, six years," Karras said. "We've just been ratcheting it up."
He told the regents he was reluctant to approve a 4 percent increase.
"I will probably vote no but I am willing to be convinced, or have some alternative plan," Karras said.
Mark Spencer, associate commissioner for finance and facilities with Utah System of Higher Education, said the 4 percent is simply a blanket figure, knowing that the Tier 2 tuition increases can be adjusted.
Higher Education Commissioner Rich Kendell, of Bountiful, said the institutions should, when proposing their individual Tier 2 tuitions in the spring, acknowledge if they are slated to receive more in Tier 1 than is needed. They should set their Tier 2 tuitions with those figures in mind.
The regents amended their motion to approve the 4 percent with Kendell's recommendation for universities and colleges to take into consideration the state's Tier 1 tuition when they set their Tier 2 tuition.
The vote was unanimous to approve a 4 percent increase for Tier 1 tuition.
In an interview after the meeting, Karras further explained his views.
"We've been raising tuition by a huge amount. The quantum that it has been raised by every year is really pretty big," Karras said.
"I was sort of putting a marker out that when we talk about second tier tuition, I'm not going to be as anxious to go as high as we have been going in the past.
"We got pretty good funding from the Legislature last year. The economy is stronger. So I am hoping we can ease up on the kids a little bit," he said.
