Regents to listen to student concerns over tuition hikes

"Regents value knowing students' economic conditions," said the board's public affairs officer, Tony Seese-Bieda. "The best way to gain knowledge is directly from the students."

Students can offer testimonies, statistics and sob stories in Harvill Room 211 at 7:30 p.m. Tuition will be set for the UA, Northern Arizona University and Arizona State University at the board's next meeting, April 2 and 3 in the Memorial Student Union.

"We need to make sure tuition is as low as possible for students while still maintaining programs," Associated Students President Gilbert Davidson said.

Davidson said he plans to request no more than a 2.3 percent increase - the current Consumer Price Index rate of inflation.

Last year, the board raised tuition 2.4 percent for in-state and 4 percent for out-of-state students. Instate tuition this year is $1,030 per semester, and out-of-state is $4,356.

"The board is balancing what they can raise through grants, private donations and through the state," Seese-Bieda said. "They'll look at what is left that students can reasonably pay."

Because the state Legislature has not yet set the universities' budgets, regents will have to do some guesswork in determining proper rates.

"The budget appropriations probably won't be completed until next week," Seese-Bieda said. "Every year, there's a new wrinkle."

The teleconference can also be viewed on cable television - TCI Channel 53 and People's Choice Channel 46.