| OCR Text |
Show U tuition and fees may increase Fletcher issues statement on tuition, considers Utah house bill on education t ' ' ' ' -1 - ' ' ' '..'X. if . . 4 ': 1 X -' ! i i; , , 1 i ft liiin aimMummn i i ii hniwrnii n i By Joan Nelson Staff Writer If House Bill 318 passes the Utah State Senate University tuition and fees will be increased to $160 a quarter for resident students. The bill passed, 52-10 in the House Wednesday. The bill, in effect, will raise minimum student tuition from $300 to $390 a year which will raise student costs from $420 to $480, said Neal Maxwell executive vice president and administrator who has handled University legislative matters. Out-of-state tuition will be raised from $800-$975. University President James E. Fletcher, in a statement concerning the increase, said the "appropriation will require us to make some hard decisions which will effect both the quality and quantity of services the University can render, not only educationally, but economically." "The recommended increase in appropriations for the University's general and instructional budget for 1969-70 is 5.4 per cent above the appropriation for 1968-69," he said, "mis comes in the face of an anticipa ed enrollment increase of 5.3 per cent, a general cost of living increase of 4.7 per cent and impending legislative action to increase the students tuition by 17 per cent." Tuition Doesn't Correspond "Our greatest concern is that state appropriations and tuition levels do not rise correspondingly for all institutions," continued President Fletcher. "The percentage increase being recommended for the University, the state's largest and most complex institution of higher education, is about half the average increase being given to all other state institutions. This means that more and more of the cost of higher education is being shifted to students." "The general instruction budget increase appropriated for lower-division full-time equivalent student at the University totals only $34 per student, while the increases at the other academic institutions range from $40 to $85. Yet the University is carrying 71 per cent of the state's graduate program and attracts 80 per cent of all the research dollars brought into the state. In addition, the University line items were cut $267,000 apparently to provide funds for a new police academy and a contingent enrollment fund for the central governing agency of higher education." Student Concern Student concern about the situation is strong. "It is a major crisis and turning point in our education," said Jolene Edmunds, a member of Associated Women's Council. "Things are going to get hot." "I think that there are other places to get money besides students' pockets," said Gogi Foster. "They get more money, build more buildings and then don't have the funds to staff them properly." Willard Morris, member of Pi Kappa Alpha social fraternity, said, "if tuition raises at the same rate it has in the last 10 years, I'll go to Utah State." "I think the whole thing is rotten," said sophomore Bob Bettilyon. "If they need money so badly, why not cut out the marching band, the yearbook and Chronicle and save us some money." Raise Serious "I have friends for whom the raise is serious," said freshman Janine Pickett. "It is going to make it difficult for some kids even to go to school." "ASUU is very upset and quite concerned about the situation," said Pat Christ, member of Associated Students of the University of Utah (ASUU) Finance Board. "We, as students, expect to pay for some of our education, but I can't see the justification for the extent of the increase. I feel they should have increased the apportionment and then increased tuition, but to a smaller degree." "There has been some talk about doing away with athletic support and student activities fees which would amount to about $11.25 a quarter. At the present time we can do nothing about athletics because their budget is made two years in advance. I think the students get their money's worth from their activity fee money." Personal Pleas "We hoped that the bill would have stayed in the House sifting committee," he continued, "until the legislature had terminated this session. It was passed by a big margin. Our only hope is for personal pleas from the students. If students want to do anything, they should contact their legislature by person or phone." ASUU has been working on ways to stop the passage of a tuition increase since its conception in September. Their efforts culminated with the presentation of student letters to legislators Wednesday. The bill will add $3 million in total to all colleges, universities and the two trade schools in Utah. niversity President James C. Fletcher issues a statement concerning icessary increases due to Utah legislative actions. |
