AMES, Iowa – The Iowa Board of Regents met with student leaders Thursday to discuss a proposed tuition increase. The increase was announced last week after it was determined the Iowa Legislature would increase state support for higher education by only $6 million, reports WHO.
The University Presidents and Regent officials had determined that due to the cost of maintaining a high-quality education, a $20 million increase was needed. Governor Branstad asked for a $8.9 million increase in his budget.
State Board of Regent President Bruce Rastetter said that when they found out lawmakers only had a $6 million increase, they needed to increase tuition by $300 in order to raise $14 million, which would take the state to a $20 million increase in funding.
Student leaders spoke before the Regents Thursday.
“While $300 may not seem like a lot to college students and to me, it is,” said Cole Staudt, President of the Student Government at Iowa State. “$300 is what I will spend on food the entire summer.”
The process caused all involved to express some frustration.
The Board of Regents is scheduled to vote on the proposed increase at the July meeting.
