Student displeasure with tuition hikes ran high as ASU, Northern Arizona University and the University of Arizona congregated Monday afternoon with the Arizona Board of Regents at the 19th annual public tuition hearing.
University presidents met via webcast, with ASU President Michael Crow speaking from the Tempe campus.
Crow proposed a tuition increase to compensate for the budget cuts issued by the Arizona State Legislature. However, he did not specify the exact amount of the tuition increase. A USG Facebook event for the hearing estimated ASU’s in-state tuition increase to be $1,562.
“This is a result in the changing status of higher education by the state legislature,” Crow said.
A release of the proposed budget by the Arizona State Senate on March 16 showed a plan to cut $235 million from Arizona universities.
Crow said the tuition increase would replace 40 percent of the budget cuts, while the other 60 percent would need to be accounted for in other areas.
Crow also proposed adding fees to majors that cost more to operate, such as business and journalism, and making freshmen and sophomores accountable for fees paid by the programs’ upperclassmen.
Jacob Goulding, president of Tempe’s Undergraduate Student Government, said discussion about tuition matters should be made more public to ASU students in response to Crow’s proposal statement.
ASASUD President Christian Vasquez agreed, saying transparency in Crow’s administration is important.
Vasquez spoke to the Board, in front of about 35 students, parents, faculty and community members in the Nursing and Health Innovation Building II auditorium. He said students are concerned about the impact of the tuition proposal on themselves and their families.
Vasquez said ASASUD compiled student input on tuition during the tuition rally that took place last Wednesday to raise student awareness.
The hearing allowed students to tell their stories of financial uncertainty when it comes to paying for college.
Nursing student Alexandra Keil gave a speech to the Board on her long journey to a degree and how increased tuition could postpone her graduation.
Keil said she has only one semester until she graduates in December, depending on her financial situation.
“I don’t know how to pay for next year.” Keil said. “Please keep in mind these proposals have marked ramifications.”
The Board is to set the final tuition and fees for the 2011-2012 academic year in Tucson on April 7 and 8.
Contact the reporter at Megan.L.Stewart@asu.edu
