Regents approve hikes of 7% plus

HURRICANE — Lack of state funding. Hike college tuition. Repeat chorus.

The seemingly perennial task of raising tuition came to a head again Friday as the State Board of Regents approved first- and second-tier tuition increases for Utah's nine public colleges and universities. The average combined jump is about 9.3 percent across the system.

Students "realize the dilemma we're in," said regent William Edwards, a student at the University of Utah. But the concern is that continued increases will price students out of the market. "I think it's going to affect demand in the long run."

Regents followed the Legislature's lead in setting the first-tier tuition hike at 3 percent to cover a compensation increase for staff and faculty. This is the fourth year in a row college presidents have taken advantage of a second-tier tuition increase, which is supposed to be allocated according to agreements made with students during public hearings.

• U. — 10 percent increase for undergraduates and 15 percent for graduate students. Revenues from the increase will generate $3 million for fuel and power costs not funded by the state, $2.9 million for academic departments and enrollment growth and $1.4 million for graduate programs.

• Utah State University — 7 percent for returning undergraduate and graduate students and 9 percent for incoming freshmen and graduate students. About $1 million of revenue from the increase will fund library enhancements.

• Weber State University — 10 percent for all students, with money from the increase going toward hiring faculty and compensation for faculty and staff.

• Southern Utah University — 11 percent to help fund fuel and power costs and employee compensation

• Snow College — 9 percent to fund hiring of more faculty

• Dixie State College — 7.5 percent for freshmen and sophomores and 8 percent for juniors and seniors, with $264,900 to be used for operation and maintenance costs not covered by the state.

• College of Eastern Utah — 7 percent to help with computing systems upgrades