Arizona residents will not be able to afford an education in this state if tuition rates rise too much, college students told the board of regents last night.

Students from the three state universities spoke to members of the Arizona Board of Regents last night at the fourth annual tuition hearings.

University of Arizona undergraduate Senator Laura Casper said, "By raising tuition you begin to limit students chances to receive higher education."

Testimony was heard from students at Arizona State University, ASU West, Northern Arizona University, NAU-Yuma and the UA campus in Sierra Vista, through interactive television.

Regent President Eddie Basha said, "We encourage the participation of all of you, you're voice is important. We're here to serve you, you, who are enrolled in college, are our future."

Students voiced their concerns about tuition increases for the next academic school year for both in-state and out-of-state students. They support an increase of 0-3 percent based on the current price index (rise of inflation) plus 1 percent.

Jeff Schrade, a political science and economics sophomore said, "Education should be as nearly free as possible. Tuition is the fairest way to give us access to education."

Greg Gemson, Arizona Students' Association Task Force Director, said this year's hearings were particularly important because the regents are considering a tuition indexing plan proposed by Regent Hank Amos.

Gemson said ASA is not opposed to tuition indexing but they are not in favor of Amos' plan because over the next seven years, it could lead to some of the largest increases ever seen.

State universities are ranked from most expensive to least expensive based on in-state tuition rates at the senior public institution in each of the 50 states, Associated Students President Ben Driggs told the Daily Wildcat earlier this month.

He said Amos' plan would move the UA from their current position on that scale, number 46, to somewhere between 37th and 34th over the next seven years.

ASA Director Christine Thompson asked the regents to consider whether or not setting tuition according to the senior four year institutions in the 50 states was really a fair.

Amos said this plan would make tuition affordable and predictable for students.

But Gemson said, "I would rather have affordable tuition with low predictability than predictably high tuition."

Driggs said the one area he does support is an increase in the fee students pay to the Arizona Financial Aid Trust Fund. He said that if this fee is increased then the money allocated to financial aid programs will also increase.

Debra Syden, a political science junior, said increases would mean many students, like her, who attend the UA because of its programs for students with disabilities would not be able to come back next year.

Regents were present at each of the main campuses with Basha, Amos and Judy Gignac on the UA's panel with Driggs and UA President Manuel Pacheco.

About 35 people attended the tuition hearings in the Harvill Building's video conference room 211.

Basha said everybody's input will be taken into account when they set tuition at their April 25 and 26 meeting at ASU.

Written comment on tuition can be sent to the regent's central office at 2020 N. Central Ave., Suite 230, Phoenix, AZ., 85004.