FLAGSTAFF — In a hairsplitting 6-5 vote, the Arizona Board of Regents passed a 4 percent resident tuition increase for ASU, NAU and UA on Thursday.
The tuition hike, which equates to an extra $97 per year for in-state students in the 2002-2003 academic year, was considerably lower than expected. Out-of-state tuition was increased unanimously by 7.25 percent.
All 11 voting board members listened to the university and student body presidents talk about the dire situation of budgets and student pocketbooks.
Echoing the comments at last week's public tuition hearing, ASU President Lattie Coor said that in light of inadequate state funding, not raising tuition next year would create a "slow, steady loss of confidence" in the universities.
UA student body President Ray Quintero insisted on a zero percent rise in tuition, calling for the regents to "make the compassionate decision" and not burden students with higher fees.
At his final ABOR meeting as ASU president, Coor reaffirmed his 12 percent increase request for Arizona residents, a $300 figure that was in sync with NAU President John Haeger and UA President Peter Likins.
"We have no choice," Likins said of the proposed 12 percent hike.
But when roll call was over, it was clear the regents didn't see it that way.
Nine of the 11 board members present (ex-officio member Gov. Jane Hull was present by teleconference from a governor's meeting in Utah) weighed in before the resident tuition roll call, sharing personal stories from their own college experience and lamenting Arizona's future economic situation.
"This year we're at a crossroads," said Regent Gary Stuart, who dissented on the 4 percent vote. He encouraged students not to view tuition as a cost but as an investment. He said that his college debt was the best thing that ever happened to him.
Student Regent Myrina Robinson voted for the measure. She said the $97 hike, which reflects inflation, was a compromise between zero and 12 percent but admitted it was not the perfect answer to universities' anemic budgets or the financial troubles for students.
"Each mandate is just a Band-Aid," Robinson said.
ABOR President-elect Jack Jewett, who voted for the increase, said "our track record is abysmal" when it comes to financial aid and pledged to seek integrated public policy measures for better university funding in the future.
Though five board members cast a dissenting vote, they were passionate and vocal in their support for higher tuition.
"This university system is about to crack," said Regent Robert Bulla, the newest board member.
Bulla told his fellow board members that after studying "a universe of data" and "asking a lot of stupid questions," he felt that a $500 tuition increase next year, equivalent to 20 percent of the current $2,486 tuition, is necessary to keep the troubled state universities afloat.
After voting in favor of the 4 percent increase, Regent Don Ulrich criticized students for coming to the ABOR table with the same lines year after year.
"I have not heard one creative idea from you, and you're supposed to be the best and the brightest," Ulrich said, looking at the table of three student body presidents. "Instead of just complaining, why don't you get a little creative and help us?"
Reach the reporter at katie.petersen@asu.edu.
