News updates are sent daily. You can unsubscribe at any time.
Regents approve ASU tuition hikes
Digg|
Save|
License|
Print|
E-mail|
ASU students bring their belongings with them as they move into Mazanita Hall in this August 15, 2007, file photo.
Tim Hacker, Tribune
ASU's price tag is rising sharply for new students and upperclassmen studying nursing, engineering and design next school year, as the Arizona Board of Regents passed a package of tuition and fee increases this morning.
ASU seeks tuition hike to help with budget cuts
Tuition hike likely at ASU due to state's woes
In-state students, freshmen and transfer students face a 10.4 percent tuition jump, bringing their cost to $6,250. Continuing students receive a 5 percent increase; they will pay between $5,569 and $5,932 next year depending on when they first enrolled.
The regents voted 7-2 to enact the tuition rates as Arizona State University President Michael Crow proposed them. Dennis DeConcini, a regent and former U.S. Senator, and Tom Horne, Arizona Superintendent of Public Instruction, voted against.
DeConcini argued forcefully for a smaller, one-time tuition increase for in-state students to assist students and their families during a time of economic crisis.
"For one year, we're going to live like the rest of America is," he said.
DeConcini nearly succeeded. His motion to increase ASU's tuition and fees a flat 3.7 percent next school year lost 5-4.
Crow and the presidents at the University of Arizona and Northern Arizona University asked that students pay significantly more for their education to cover part of the schools' funding losses.
ASU sliced $22 million from its budget during an earlier round of cuts in August because of the state's economic woes. The university is planning for an even larger reduction in January, when the Legislature reconvenes and must find ways to eliminate an estimated $1.3 billion shortfall due to faltering tax revenue.
Further, tuition increases have been a critical source of financial aid. The regents also approved a measure that requires 17 percent of the cash the tuition increases generate go to need-based financial aid.
"We cannot help those who really need help if we don't have enough tuition to do what we need to do," said Robert Bulla, a regent.
Crow said that when he became ASU's president in 2002, he found a university that had very low tuition, but was still too expensive for many low-income students because Arizona provides virtually no financial aid.
"That model was a total, unmitigated failure," Crow said.
Check back at www.evtrib.com for updates this afternoon.
Please add your comments, but follow these guidelines to keep this a safe, credible place for discussing the news: