Regents approve 6 percent tuition increase, revoke $100 surcharge

Iowa students at the state's three regent universities will pay 6 percent more in tuition next year. But they will get back a $100 spring semester surcharge previously approved by the state regents.

The 6 percent increase was approved by a 7-2 vote of the state Board of Regents today in Ames. Regents Michael Gartner of Des Moines and Ruth Harkin of Cumming voted against the increase, arguing for a lower rate.

The board then voted unanimously to rescind the $100 tuition surcharge for the current semester, which had been approved on a 6-3 vote in December. Returning that money is contingent on the regent institutions getting $31 million in state money returned this year to partially backfill a 10 percent state budget cut. Board members said they want to return the $100 to students because of the unexpected return of state money.

Regarding the tuition increase, the university presidents said 6 percent is needed to maintain quality in the face of substantial state budget cuts. Student government leaders from the University of Iowa, Iowa State University and the University of Northern Iowa all spoke today in support of the 6 percent rate, saying it was reasonable in light of the state budget picture and necessary to keep quality high. That was a reversal of opinion for the student leaders at ISU and UNI, who last fall called on the board to approve a lower increase more in line with expected inflation.

Regent Gartner,  speaking against the 6 percent rate, said he thinks it would be easier for the institutions as a whole to absorb the budget cuts easier than can Iowa students and families.

"Things are not getting any better," Gartner said. "Life is still very, very difficult for the families that are trying to send their sons and daughters to the universities."

But the idea of maintaining quality despite the loss of state money won out for the other regents.

"I'm going to vote for this but it's kept me awake many nights," Regent Bonnie Campbell of Des Moines said.