Regents seek $44.3 million boost

In the state's hierarchy of education funding, college and university professors should be just as valued as teachers at the public education level.

That's one message the Utah Board of Regents on Friday wanted to send to the Legislature, asking lawmakers to fund professors with a 3 percent salary increase, which doesn't include benefits.

"Our major concern is a salary increase," said Commissioner of Higher Education Cecelia Foxley. Professors haven't had a state-funded increase in three years.

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BORDER="1"> FACE="Verdana,Helvetica,Arial" SIZE="2">Regents' tuition increase requests FACE="Verdana,Helvetica,Arial" SIZE="2"> 2003 4.5 percent 2002 4.5 percent 2001 3 percent 2000 4 percent 1999 3 percent 1998 2.7 percent

Regents started the day with a recommendation from Foxley's office for a 2.5 percent increase. Regent Charles Johnson said the board should send a "consistent" message to the Legislature on salary increases for all educators.

For higher education to reach a 3 percent increase, though, regents are also asking for approval on a 4.5 percent increase — instead of the recommended 4 percent — in the cost of tuition at Utah's nine public colleges and universities. The regents also requested a 4.5 percent systemwide increase last fall.

About one-third of the salary increase would be funded by tuition revenues from the "first-tier" increase. The rest, more than $11 million, would come from state tax funds.

Regents chairman Nolan Karras didn't exactly jump on the tuition hike bandwagon.

"I'm getting a little anxious about how much we're putting on the backs of students," Karras said. He and the sole student regent member, William Edwards, voted against the tuition increase.

In the coming months, regents will also consider "second-tier" tuition increases that university presidents will request to help run their schools. Those requests do not need legislative approval.