Inside Iowa State: Iowa State University

October 24, 2003

Regent approval of modest tuition hike looks likely

by Anne Krapfl
Presidents of the three regents universities and the student governments at the three universities endorsed a tuition and fees proposal presented Oct. 16 to the Board of Regents, State of Iowa. The regents will vote on the proposal, which would cover rates for the 2004-05 year, at their November meeting.

"My most serious concern is maintaining the quality of our educational program," President Gregory Geoffroy told the regents. "I think that's what students want, and what Iowans want."

Geoffroy also told board members that the proposed tuition increases would not allow Iowa State to self-fund salary increases for its employees next year, as it did completely this year and partially last year. He said it would be very important for the Legislature to approve full state funding for salaries during the 2004 session.

As proposed by the regents staff, tuition for resident undergraduates would increase $360 (from $4,342 to $4,702), an increase of 8.3 percent. Tuition would increase $720 for non-resident undergraduates (from $13,684 to $14,404) or 5.3 percent.

Tuition for resident graduate students would increase $450 for the year (from $5,038 to $5,488) or 8.9 percent. Tuition would increase $900 for nonresident graduate students (from $14,214 to $15,114) or 6.3 percent.

As proposed, undergraduate mandatory fees would go up $38 for the year, from $686 to $724. The largest increase would be in the student services fee, which would go up $20 to allow students to ride CyRide buses for free.

Carver Hall remodel
In other business, the regents gave Iowa State permission to hire an architect and begin planning for a remodel of 24,000 square feet in Carver Hall, which becomes available when the College of Business moves to the new Gerdin building. That move begins in December. The English and math departments will move into most of the space. Other scheduled new tenants for Carver Hall are the Program for Women in Science and Engineering, Office of Precollegiate Programs for Talented and Gifted (OPPTAG), the new Institute for Science and Society and the ethnic studies program. Several large general university classrooms also will be added in the space.

The regents' next meeting will be Nov. 11-12 in Cedar Falls.