Students could see big tuition changes this spring, including differentiated tuition by major and a more than 8 percent tuition increase, according to members of the Arizona Board of Regents.

Regents will set the spring tuition calendar at tomorrow's regents meeting in Tempe and discuss tuition ideas, financial aid and class fees. Administrators at the three state universities are planning the universities' tuition proposals, which they must announce by Feb. 14 or at least 10 days prior to the public tuition hearing.

Virgil Renzulli, vice president of public affairs at Arizona State University, said ASU officials are discussing an 8 to 8.5 percent tuition increase, which would mean increases of about $345 at ASU and $347 at UA. UA President Peter Likins could not be reached for comment, but Renzulli said more than an 8 percent increase at the UA is possible.

"The way it's gone in past years is all three universities have had the same tuition, so we are assuming that will be the same again this year," Renzulli said.

Last year, the UA increased in-state undergraduate tuition by $494, or 13.7 percent, bringing the total tuition cost to $4,087, a figure that placed the UA the 41st lowest out of 50 peer universities.

ASU went up 13.1 percent to $4,062, while Northern Arizona University went up 13.3 percent to $4,072, according to regent's reports.

Regent Ernest Calderon, who voted against the increase last spring, said he heard discussions about the 8 percent increase, but would prefer to see a 4 percent increase at the universities.

"Eight percent is higher than I'm comfortable with," Calderon said.

In 2003, Likins and the regents aimed to raise the UA's tuition from one of the cheapest schools in the nation to the top of the bottom one-third. Since then, students have seen tuition increases totaling more than 50 percent, with the highest tuition increase two years ago at $1,010.

In an interview earlier this semester, Likins said students are under the incorrect assumption that their tuition dollars operate the university; in reality, in-state tuition only contributes 5 percent of the university operating budget while out-of-state tuition contributes 10 percent.

"In-state tuition contributes maybe 5 percent of the money required to run this place -it's a very small number," Likins said.

Calderon said having different tuition rates determined by a student's major makes sense when applied to areas of law or medicine, but fears it might become too artificial if a history major must pay more than a political science major.

Regent Fred Boice said regents will consider many ideas when discussing tuition this spring, including a proposal which would make tuition increases predictable, in order to ensure planning and stability for students.

Following two years of significant tuition hikes, Likins said last year that future tuition increases would be smaller, but will still be higher due to changes in the consumer price index.

Student body President Alistair Chapman said in the next few days, student leaders will be constructing surveys, organizing focus groups, meeting with administrators and visiting a wide range of students in order to identify issues surrounding tuition changes.

"We're trying to understand the financial pressures of the university as well as the financial pressures of the students," Chapman said.

Financial aid remains a No. 1 priority for student leaders, Chapman said, but they are also considering class availability, size and other university-related expenses. Calderon said the first aspect he looks at when considering a tuition increase is the impact the change will have on working students, including students who marginally miss eligibility for a Pell Grant.

Other topics the regents will be discussing include differential tuition rates between the three universities, financial aid and tuition revenue required for debt services.

When setting tuition, Boice said the regents have a constitutional obligation to keep higher education affordable for students, but at the same time, they must also ensure the quality of education.

"There's just not enough money," Boice said. "We want to capture every realistic funding source we can."

Regent Christina Palacios said she would prefer to see moderate tuition increases, but believes all the proposals need to be examined in detail.

"Exactly how it will be done deserves a lot of study and contemplation," Palacios said. "I have no preconceived expectations at this point."

Regents will set resident, non-resident and graduate tuition March 11 and 12.