Tuition vote on tap for December regents meeting

The Iowa Board of Regents next month is looking to approve keeping tuition rates for resident undergraduates flat for the third straight year – the first time that's happened since 1975.

But, as is spelled out in its Dec. 4 meeting agenda made public Tuesday, the board warns that it could increase tuition after the fact if the legislature fails to approve a 4 percent increase in general university funding.

“The Board of Regents is committed to working with the state to secure the requested additional appropriations,” according to the Dec. 4 agenda.

Sheila Doyle Koppin, spokeswoman for the board, said funding for the tuition freeze is among the board's "top legislative priorities."

"We will do everything we can to answer legislators' questions and provide information to ensure the necessary funds are included in the FY 2015 budget that the General Assembly approves and sends to the governor," Koppin said.

According to the tuition proposal for the next year, resident undergraduate tuition would remain at $6,678 for UI and at $6,648 for Iowa State University and UNI. Nonresident undergraduate tuition would increase 1.8 percent at UI, 1.74 percent at ISU and 2.5 percent at UNI, according to the proposal.

Graduate and professional tuition rates also would go up, increasing by 1.8 percent for both resident and nonresidents at UI, for example.

Even if the proposed tuition freeze sticks for resident undergraduates, the overall cost to attend still will go up for everyone at the three regent universities thanks to increases in mandatory fees and room and board costs.

The total estimated cost to attend UI next year for a resident undergraduate – including fees, room and board and other costs – is $21,086, representing a 2.2 percent hike. The increases in cost of attendance for resident undergraduates at ISU and UNI would be 1.4 percent and .1 percent, respectively, under the tuition proposal.

Proposed fee increases include a $10 recreation fee increase for UI students, a $2.80 student activities fee increase at ISU and a $37 student services fee increase at at UNI.

The Board of Regents' December meeting will be conducted via telephone and will be streamed live at

www.regents.iowa.gov.