By
Katie Clark
Arizona Daily Wildcat
Advising a priority for students
With a tuition increase looming in the distance, many University of Arizona students said they do not mind paying a bit more for improved services.
Tuition will increase next year by $140 for in-state students and $550 for out-of-state students. The Arizona Board of Regents approved the increase at its meeting at Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff Wednesday.
Andrew Salvati, an undeclared sophomore, said he "can't really complain" about the increase.
He said it is still less expensive for him to pay out-of-state tuition at UA than it would be if he went to school in his home state of New Jersey.
"Rutgers (University) would be much more expensive," he said.
Melissa Barnes, a family studies junior, agreed, saying an increase should be expected.
"You can't expect things to stay constant," she said. "The economy is always changing."
But some students said they still feel the increase is excessive.
"It seems a little high to me to be raised all at once," said Ann Manziello, a mathematics senior who pays in-state tuition.
"I'm on scholarship, but if I wasn't, (the increase) would be a bigger deal," said Jessica Bonham, a pre-business freshman.
Bonham, whose parents told her college expenses were her responsibility, said if she didn't have a scholarship to pay for her tuition, she would definitely feel the hardships of the increase.
That increase is expected to be used for TA and faculty salaries, financial aid and advising.
UA President Peter Likins said at the Regents meeting that advising will be a top priority, an issue many students agreed needed to be addressed.
"Advising here isn't very good," Manziello said. "Even the major advisers don't seem to know the requirements for the degree."
Bonham agreed, saying she didn't get the help she was looking for at her advising appointment yesterday.
"It was probably something I could have done myself," she said.
"If the money is used to improve (advising), then it's a good thing," she added.
Salvati said he agreed that allocating money to improve advising was important.
"If it wasn't for advising, I probably wouldn't graduate," he said.
