TUCSON -- The Arizona Board of Regents discussed differentiated tuition and the process for including student input in tuition increases at the conclusion of its meeting at UA before spring break.
Regents President Gary Stuart commended the board on having worked with students to develop the new tuition structure instead of acting as arbitrators between students and university presidents as it had in the past.
A proposal introduced at the meeting by Regent Fred Boice balanced President Michael Crow's recommended 8.5 percent increase for existing ASU students with the undergraduate student government's recommended 6 percent increase for residents.
The regents approved an 8.5 percent tuition increase for existing students at ASU's Tempe campus, while students at ASU's east and west campuses will see only a 7 percent tuition increase.
"Nobody on this board takes delight in raising tuition," Boice said.
"What we did [March 10] may well become historic," Stuart said of differentiated tuition.
Student Regent Wes McCalley had offered a different tuition recommendation that was turned down, but commended the regents on making the decision to increase tuition responsibly.
The new tuition structure would better equip Arizona universities for future success, he said.
March 11, the board also approved:
A joint venture between ASU and UA that would connect the universities to the National LambdaRail, a research tool that would allow high-speed Internet connections with other major universities around the country.
The establishment of the Virginia G. Piper Center for Creative Writing and the School of Global Studies.
The implementation of the Bachelor of Liberal Studies.
The regents' next meeting is scheduled for April 28-29 at ASU, where the board is expected to set fees for individual programs.
Reach the reporter at elias.arnold@asu.edu.
