Schools may raise tuition a 2nd time

Fiscally shaken college students in Utah are girding for a possible tuition aftershock:

The State Board of Regents has already approved a 4.5 percent tuition increase for the 2004-05 session, and at a regents meeting this Thursday, presidents from at least nine of Utah's 10 public colleges and universities will begin talking more in earnest about a "second-tier" increase — hikes that are imposed by individual schools but which must be approved by the regents.

For most schools, the size of a second-tier increase will depend upon how much in state tax funds the Legislature finds for higher edu-

cation. Gov. Olene Walker has proposed a 4 percent, $39 million increase for higher education, but regents have asked for $90 million more than what higher education received last year. In recent years, the second-tier increase has helped make up for a lack in state funds.

In March, presidents will take more formal requests to regents, who then vote on the increases.

"Usually, increases have pretty good buy-in from the students," said Dave Buhler, Utah System of Higher Education associate commissioner of public affairs.

It's a requirement that second-tier increases, which began with the 2001-02 school year, first get discussed in public hearings with students. School officials talk about a range of numbers with students and disclose exactly how the extra money would be spent.

Last year, however, Southern Utah University had the largest second-tier increase — 19 percent — but was among the lowest in student involvement in the decision. That approach has changed.

"We're listening," said SUU marketing and public relations director Dean O'Driscoll.

SUU students have already said in meetings they would favor another increase. But they tell school officials, "We just want to know where that money is going," O'Driscoll said.

SUU has not yet defined a number or range for an increase. One caveat, O'Driscoll noted, is that SUU doesn't want to lead the pack in increases this year.

It's likely that every school will ask for a second-tier increase. Here's what some schools are thinking.

• University of Utah: No range yet. "We hope to keep it as low as possible," said Fred Esplin, vice president for university relations. "We may need to compensate for a lack of state funds."