ASU President Michael Crow recommended a $335 tuition increase for in-state undergraduates, and a $670 tuition increase for nonresident undergraduates, to the Arizona Board of Regents on Monday.
Crow's proposal is about a third of the $1,000 increase approved last year by the board, and less than the increases recommended by the presidents of NAU and UA.
UA President Peter Likins recommended a $490 increase for in-state undergraduates and a $700 increase for out-of-state undergraduates. NAU President John Haeger recommended a $475 increase for both in-state and out-of-state students.
Crow also recommended a $1,200 increase for all graduate students, with the exception of graduate teaching and research assistants and associates.
The regents will hold a statewide tuition hearing Feb. 25, and will set next year's tuition in March.
Crow encouraged student discussion regarding his recommendations.
"Student involvement in the tuition-setting process last year was critically important," he said. "I look forward again this year to engaging the student leadership in a productive dialogue to address their desires for using tuition revenue to benefit students."
Crow said the increase should provide more financial aid for needy students, but he also said the money would support the 3.7 percent enrollment increase from last year. Enrollment at all ASU campuses reached an all-time high of 57,543 students in fall 2003.
"We are committed to doing everything possible to mitigate the effects of a tuition increase by further increasing financial aid for qualified Arizona families," Crow said.
Undeclared sophomore Jonathan Yutzy said students needs weren't being met fast enough.
"I'm outraged," he said. "I think we pay enough for this school. With the amount of change on campus, it doesn't go together with the amounts we pay."
In addition to the tuition increase, Crow proposed a student-health fee of $40 per semester. The fee is supposed to help ASU Student Health Services become self-supporting and give students greater access to health services.
If the regents approve that fee and a $25 per semester Memorial Union and Student Recreation Center fee at the March meeting, the total cost for resident undergraduates would be $4,063 per year in tuition and fees. Those students currently pay $3,595 per year. Nonresidents pay $12,028 per year in tuition.
Current fees total $44 per semester. They include a $1 Arizona Students Association fee, a $25 SRC fee and an $18 financial aid trust fee.
ASU Student Health Director Dr. Mary Rimsza said the proposed student-health fee would provide an on-call physician available 24 hours a day, free nutrition counseling, asthma education and tobacco cessation services.
The meningitis vaccine, which costs $65, would be reduced to $20, and screening for sexually transmitted diseases, which costs $82, would also cost $20.
Roberto Jacques, a communication and Spanish junior, said he only goes to the student health center for birth control.
"Eighty dollars a year for condoms? It's not worth it," he said of the proposed new fee.
Reach the reporter at lindsay.butler@asu.edu..
