The Northern Light

Issue date: 9/19/06 Section: News

On Thursday, Sept. 21, and Friday Sept. 22, the UA Board of Regents will decide once again whether to increase tuition for students in the university system across the state. The regents will vote on a proposed 7-percent tuition increase and will explore the option of an additional 1- to 3-percent tuition increase to dedicate toward need-based tuition.

The 7-percent increase will raise the cost per credit from $120 to $128 for lower-division courses and $135 to $144 for upper-division courses.

UAA student Jacob Gondek, who is in the master's in engineering program and UAA's current student regent, said that what is at stake differs slightly this year from past years.

"We're looking at increasing it past what inflation is at, a minimum of 7 percent with the possibility of 10," Gondek said. "Three percent would go to need-based financial aid."

The university does not currently have any systems in place for need-based financial aid.

Legislation regarding the tuition increase has been proposed in both the UAA student senate and the coalition of student leaders, a board composed of student leaders from schools across the state.

Justice Brooks, the coalition representative for UAA, described the opinions held by some of his coalition peers.

"The coalition is against the increase because they reflect the voice of the students," he said. "The students don't feel their money is being spent correctly, and they also don't feel the money is being allocated and accounted for in an economical manner."

He said students feel frustrated with the fact that if the proposed tuition increase passes, it will be the fourth increase in as many years.

"We started off with the plan the president had, and he said it would be a four-year, 10-percent increase for four years. I think there needs to be a definite upheaval, not only among the students but among the board of regents. You need to be a man of your word and follow what you say," Brooks said.

USUAA Senator and second-year political science major Karl Wing expressed his indecision regarding the possibility of another tuition increase.

"I would support the tuition increase to bring more opportunities to the students €" things such as more facilities, lower class sizes, more professors €" giving students more options," he said. "But if it's being used unwisely, I would not support it in that manner."

Wing said USUAA's stance on the tuition increase reflects the voice of the student body.

"We actually spent an hour and a half going around asking students how they felt about the tuition increase. We had people say that tuition increases are a fact of life, but we also have a lot of people say that college is expensive enough as it is," Wing said.

Many students' fears exist beyond simply having to pay more money.

"Some are even afraid that their scheduled graduation will be delayed because they can't afford classes," Wing said.

USUAA President Anthony Rivas expressed doubt about asking students for more money, partially because of the surplus the state has experienced in the last year.

"I think it's unfortunate that we have to have a tuition increase in a state that has record-breaking oil prices. The state is making it harder and harder for students to afford to go to college in Alaska," said Rivas.

Gondek explained why the university feels the necessity to continue considering tuition hikes each year, using the engineering department as an example.

"The engineering department's numbers are significantly above what they expected. There are over 200 students in the electrical and mechanical engineering programs alone. The university didn't initially set aside money to pay for them," Gondek said. "There are new programs that have already been created and are in demand, yet there is no money there to pay for them."

Gondek suggests that students approach the regents respectfully and bring suggestions instead of criticism.

"I recommend that they thank the regents for support and what they've done for the university during their terms," he said. "I also hope that they come up with alternatives for finding funding in the university."

Students will have the opportunity to address the entire board during time allocated for public testimony. The board is scheduled to make its final decisions on the night of Friday, Sept. 22. The meeting will be held in the Commons at Creekside Eatery on the UAA Campus at 10 a.m. Sept. 21, and again at 8 a.m. Sept. 22.

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