KEVIN B. KLAUS/Arizona Daily Wildcat, JACOB KONST/Arizona Daily Wildcat Student body President Alistair Chapman, left, and President Peter Likins, right, will both release tuition proposals today. Both plans are likely to recommend increased tuition, with Chapman's suggesting a lesser increase.

Likins, student lobbyists to recommend tuition increases today

UA President Peter Likins will release his tuition proposal today, a plan including tuition increases and possible mandatory fees for undergraduates, graduates and non-residents.

Student Body President Alistair Chapman will also release his tuition counterproposal today.

In order to remain at the top of the bottom one-third in tuition rates compared to peer institutions across the nation, Likins said tuition needs to increase 19 percent, or roughly $800, for undergraduates next year.

However, at the regents' meeting last month, Likins said such an increase would be too extreme.

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. Because of the increases, the UA is 41st out of 50 peer institutions in tuition rates.

Likins also hinted at the possibility of implementing program fees because students would be more comfortable with fees than high tuition increases, since financial benefits of program fees are captured in specific colleges rather than going to a general operational pool.

"Students are more accepting of $200 if they understand that's for information technology," Likins said.

Although they would not comment on the amount of their tuition proposal, Associated Students of the University of Arizona officials said it would be lower than Likins' proposal.

In drafting their tuition proposal, Chapman said student lobbyists "heavily" considered student input, as well as the university's financial situation.

"Student leadership is aware of the financial constraints the university is facing given the dramatic decrease in state funding they have experienced in the last few years," Chapman said. "Understanding these financial constraints, we will come forward with a proposal that does not harm the university, but does protect our neediest students."

Last year, the student tuition proposal was $400, which was $90 less than the president's, while the year before, it was $900, $100 less than the president's. Both years, the students' proposal was rejected.

However, Chapman pointed out while the student proposals were not approved, portions of the proposals, such as more financial aid and academic advising, were considered.

Although Likins has remained mum on his tuition plan, Arizona State University President Michael Crow and Northern Arizona University President John Haeger said students from their schools can expect tuition increases of about 8 percent, or about $375.

The three state university presidents shared their tuition proposals with the regents on Friday.

Virgil Renzulli, vice president of public affairs at ASU, said ASU officials are considering an 8.5 percent tuition increase, which is about $345 for in-state undergraduates at ASU. In the past, Crow said he would not ask for more than a 10 percent increase.

After two consecutive years of tuition increases in the double digits, Gov. Janet Napolitano said this year's increases should match the level of inflation, around 3.5 percent.

Last year, the UA increased undergraduate tuition by $494, or 13.7 percent, bringing the total tuition cost to $4,087, while ASU went up 13.1 percent to $4,062, and NAU increased by 13.3 percent to $4,072.

A tuition hearing will be held March 2, and the regents must approve a tuition proposal March 10 and 11.

- Jennifer Amsler contributed to this report.