By
Katie Clark
Arizona Daily Wildcat
Process less stressful than last year, leaders say
FLAGSTAFF - The Arizona Board of Regents voted to raise yearly tuition by $140 and $550 for resident and non-resident students, respectively, at yesterday's meeting.
While these numbers do not include fees, the increase will bring yearly tuition at the University of Arizona to $2,488 for resident students and $10,352 for non-resident students.
The motions, proposed by Student Regent Mary Echeverria and Regent Judy Gignac, are a compromise between recommendations made by the presidents of Arizona's three state universities and the Arizona Students Association.
Ben Graff, president of the Associated Students of the University of Arizona, said he was happy with the process, but disappointed that the increase percentages are not the same for resident and non-resident students.
The tuition will increase 5.7 percent for non-resident students and a slightly higher 6.1 percent for residents.
"The bottom line is that ASA feels all students should be represented by the same percentage of increase," he said.
ASA initially recommended a 5 percent increase for both resident and non-resident students, or $114 and $486, respectively.
But Graff said he was also excited for UA President Peter Likins' commitment to making advising a priority with the generated funds.
"We've never gone into a year before with money for advising," Graff said.
Paul Peterson, ASA executive director, said he was also relieved that the process of deciding the tuition increase went so well.
"It's always frustrating when tuition has to go up," he said. "These discussions are really improving."
Likins added that while the process left the students informed, it followed the typical procedures that it takes to pass a tuition increase.
"The presidents have one perspective, the students have another perspective, and the regents have yet another perspective," he said. "But that's how the process works."
Likins said he was disappointed in the decided increase.
"It's substantially less than we asked for," he said.
During the discussion, Likins said it was necessary to increase non-resident as well as resident tuition.
"Out-of-state tuition is established by a marketplace," he said. "We cannot simply load up on out-of-state tuition. That would cause a loss of enrollment."
But Likins did acknowledge that the increase will still be beneficial to the university.
"Somehow we have to generate the revenue to run the place," he said.
