UVSC tuition may rise 9% next year

OREM — Tuition is going up again at Utah Valley State College.

UVSC's Board of Trustees decided Thursday to recommend a 5 percent tuition increase to Utah's Board of Regents, which oversees Utah's public colleges and universities.

That's not the total expected increase, however.

On top of the tuition hike UVSC leaders are seeking, the regents are expected to recommend a 4 percent tuition increase for all of Utah's colleges and universities.

If both proposals are embraced, then UVSC students will see a 9 percent increase next year.

"We'd love to have it be zero," UVSC President William Sederburg said. "There's no joy in raising tuition."

The 5 percent increase is expected to generate $2.25 million for programs that college administrators say will benefit students, like adding more advisers and bachelor's degrees.

UVSC Director of Budgets Linda Makin said she has received about $20 million in requests from the college's different departments.

The requests include new staff, equipment and programs.

Not all the requests will be granted, she said.

College administrators are bracing themselves for next fall's enrollment numbers, which are expected to drop.

For the 2005-2006 school year, enrollment dropped 8 percent. That was $5 million less in tuition for the school — and departments had to tighten their belts.

UVSC has neither the highest nor lowest tuition increase. Salt Lake Community College officials plans no increase over the statewide 4 percent, yet Dixie College wants a 35 percent total increase.

Weber State University will have a total 8 percent increase. The University of Utah will recommend the Regents approve a total 9.5 percent increase.

Last year, UVSC's tuition increase was 8.75 percent.

The hardest hit will be students who are not residents of Utah.

"We'll be over $10,000 a year for out-of-state students. And we have no control over that," Makin said, referring to a state statute that specifies how much nonresident tuition costs.

Nathalie Cadet, a UVSC student, said that her nonresident friends are the students who suffer the most from tuition hikes. "That's a lot," she said.

Macie Finlinson also expects to feel a crunch in her personal finances.

This year she had a half-tuition scholarship, and next year she will

consider financial aid when she decides whether to tack a second major of early childhood education onto her elementary education degree.

"If it's too expensive," she said, "I don't know if I will do that."

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E-mail: lhancock@desnews.com