Washington Week: Student Voices (O)

U. Nevada-Reno 25 percent tuition increase unlikely
By Jessica Estepa
Sagebrush, U. Nevada-Reno
December 02, 2008

Higher education officials said a tuition increase for next semester is unlikely, but wouldn’t rule out the possibility of future increases as Nevada’s budget shortfall continues.

After Nevada System of Higher Education Chancellor Jim Rogers said a 25 percent fee increase for students at the University of Nevada-Reno would raise $50 million for the system, students planned petitions and protests.

His proposal came after the governor’s office told state agencies to prepare for 4, 7 or 11 percent midyear cuts, on top of the cuts already made this year.

“I think that the misunderstanding is an overreaction to what the chancellor is saying,” NHSE Vice-Chancellor Daniel Klaich said. “He isn’t going to the board and proposing a 25 percent increase.”

At UNR, a 25 percent increase would mean an extra $816 for 12 credits. The increase would also be on top of the previously approved 5 percent tuition hike.

When Derek Morgan, a Truckee Meadows Community College student, heard about the increase, he said he was dismayed.

“I thought it was going to ruin my chances of coming here financially,” Morgan, 20, said.

Morgan said he wouldn’t support any tuition increases.

“In the financial situation that everyone’s in, it would just make it that much harder to get an education,” he said.

Klaich said a tuition increase for next semester could come under one circumstance: If state government officials come out of Monday’s Nevada Economic Forum with higher estimated budget deficits than expected.

If that happens, then NSHE officials will consider different solutions. It would reach a point where cutting money from the budget wasn’t enough and an increase would be necessary, he said.

At a town hall meeting Monday, University of Nevada, Reno President Milton Glick said he did not expect tuition increases for next semester. He said he has not been involved in any serious discussions about an increase.

No tuition increases would take place at the university unless there had been an open discussion between students, faculty and administration.

Glick would not rule out a future tuition increase that could start as soon as next fall. Because of the size of the cuts NSHE has gone through, a hike could save academic programs and create more financial aid packages.

UNR student Thomas Hullin said he normally wouldn’t support a tuition hike.

But given the state of the economy and Nevada’s budget, he said he would understand if officials decide to implement a tuition increase.

Officials should give students notice at least half a year before any increase so they can prepare for it, he said.

If an increase were to happen, Glick said he and other administrators would work with the state government officials to keep the increased fee dollars at UNR — something Glick has pushed for since he arrived at UNR in 2006.

About 60 percent of each tuition dollar goes into the state’s general fund. Money that came in from the increases would go directly to the NSHE institutions.

Part of the tuition dollars would continue to go into the state’s general fund because it would create a huge deficit otherwise, he said.

Klaich said Rogers has spearheaded the discussion with state legislators. The proposal would be an agreement between officials instead of in a bill.

Glick said a tuition increase’s impact on the campus could not be anticipated. Lower enrollment numbers could occur, but Glick said he wants to offset that by offering more financial aid.

[ Back to Student Voices ]