Proposed tuition increase remains 5 percent

At least two state regents say they support the proposed 5 percent tuition increase for next year at Iowa's three regent universities.

The proposal, first discussed by the board in February, goes to the regents Wednesday for approval during a meeting in Ames. The plan would increase base tuition by 5 percent for 2011-12 at the University of Iowa, Iowa State University and the University of Northern Iowa.

“It's a balance, a fine balance between accessibility and affordability and the revenues needed to keep the quality of the institutions in place,” Regent Jack Evans, of Cedar Rapids, said Thursday. “I think we've come up with that.”

A 5 percent increase would make in-state undergraduate tuition $6,436 at the UI and $6,408 at ISU and UNI. When mandatory fees are added, the total proposed increase is 4.7 at the UI, 7 percent at ISU and 4.9 percent at UNI. Out-of-state students would pay 3.5 percent to 6 percent more in tuition under the plan.

Evans, also a member of The Gazette board of directors, noted that even a 5 percent increase keeps tuition at the three universities among the lowest in their respective peer groups.

Regent Bob Downer, of Iowa City, said Thursday he also intends to support the 5 percent increase. It's needed because state funding levels have decreased, meaning tuition now makes up a larger portion of the university budgets than state money.

“It seems to me that it's probably the absolute minimum that we can get by with,” Downer said. “I understand the concerns that people have as far as the stress on students and families, but I also feel we can't afford to see the quality of the institutions slip.”

Luke Roling, president of ISU's Government of the Student Body, said at February's regents meeting he could not support a 5 percent increase, and he pushed for 2.2 percent to 4 percent, the range of the Higher Education Price Index, which projects inflation costs.

On Thursday, Roling, a 21-year-old chemical engineering major from Clinton, said he now thinks 5 percent may be the best option to maintain quality and avoid more cuts to programs and services, though he wasn't yet ready to endorse the proposal.

“The university is at the point where it really can't run much leaner in certain areas … but at the same time students are reaching that breaking point financially,” Roling said. “I'm not yet ready to say that 5 percent is the right number, but I recognize the needs both groups have.”

In a separate proposal to be discussed by the regents, residence departments at the UI, ISU and UNI suggest increases of 3 percent to 5 percent for double-occupancy rooms with full board for 2011-12.

The UI Department of Residence plans a 5 percent increase, a $380 increase to $8,042. ISU's department suggests a 3 percent increase of $224 to $7,621. UNI's residence department plans a 4.3 percent increase of $306 to $7,426.

Residence rates are considered separately from tuition, since residence systems are self-supporting operations and do not receive state funds. The board will discuss the residence proposals next week, with final approval slated for April.