Students say delay in tuition proposals might help

IOWA CITY - For the first time in recent years, state regents won't hear tuition recommendations for the upcoming year at the October meeting - a change student leaders say has pros and cons.

The regents on Wednesday will meet in Iowa City for a tuition workshop to talk about national tuition trends. But the board won't hear 2011-12 tuition recommendations for the University of Iowa, Iowa State University and the University of Northern Iowa until February, with a final vote planned in March.

Student leaders say that could be good - allowing them more time to lobby legislators for state funding and inform parents and students about how they can get involved.

“If we write letters and keep the dialogue open, state legislators will really be able to see that it's concerning for a lot of folks, and a little more time may help us with that push,” UI Student Government President John Rigby, 21, said.

UNI Student Government President Joel Anderson and ISU Government of the Student Body President Luke Roling also agree more lobbying time could help student leaders. But they said the later recommendations may be a concern for students who want to plan their personal budgets.

“It does create a bit of trouble for students who are looking to plan for the year ahead,” Roling, 21, said. “... They won't know exactly where that dollar amount will lie.”

Last year, the regents heard the tuition recommendations in October but waited until February to approve the 6 percent increase to have a better idea about state funding. They expect similar uncertainty this year on the state budget, Regents President David Miles said.

“If we can get it finalized by March, we feel that is adequate time for planning for students, for the universities ... and that we'll have a little clearer picture of how the Iowa economy is going,” Miles, of West Des Moines, said.

Iowa's three regent universities have peer institutions that don't set tuition rates until the spring, sometimes as late as May, so Miles doesn't think this schedule will put Iowa schools at a disadvantage for recruiting students.