Will regents rescind tuition surcharge?

Rescinding a $100 spring semester tuition surcharge could come up Thursday when the Board of Regents discusses a tuition increase for next year.

On Wednesday, several regents - in Ames for the two-day meeting - said it's possible they will reconsider the surcharge, approved by a 6-3 vote in December to help offset state budget cuts.

The surcharge could be reversed, they say, if the Legislature approves Gov. Chet Culver's recommendation to restore $31 million this fiscal year to the three regent universities, including $14 million to the University of Iowa.

“Now it appears we're going to be better off financially than we expected,” Regent Bob Downer of Iowa City said, saying he would support reversing the surcharge if the state money comes through. “The students are also entitled to share in the benefits of this.”

Greta Johnson, the Iowa State University student regent, is unsure if she would support a change to the surcharge, since it's already in place.

“My main issue will be with consistency,” she said. “What kind of message will it send?”

Board President David Miles of West Des Moines said he wasn't sure if there was consensus on the issue and declined to say where he stands. “There's clearly some thought being given to it,” he said.

The board will vote today on the proposed 6 percent tuition increase for 2010-11. Student leaders at ISU and University of Northern Iowa urge a lower increase.

Nationally, some universities have approved much higher increases: 9 percent at the University of Illinois, 15 percent in Florida, more than 30 percent in California.