PUBLICATIONS Inside Illinois Vol. 20, No. 13, Feb. 1, 2001

Tuition increases approved by UI Board of Trustees
Sabryna Cornish , UIC News Bureau Staff Writer

At its Jan. 18 meeting in Chicago, the UI Board of Trustees approved a comprehensive tuition plan that will raise tuition significantly for new students to finance improved student services and programs, enhanced educational technology and expanded enrollment in key high-demand courses and disciplines.

The trustees originally were scheduled to vote on the increase at the March board meeting, but after hearing the administration’s proposal about the tuition program and the benefits it would bring to the campuses, the board felt there was no reason to wait.

"Everyone understands the necessity in doing this. Why are we delaying the vote until March?" trustee Kenneth Schmidt asked.

Since the new plan was unveiled in December, forums have been held at the Chicago and Urbana campuses, the campuses where students will be affected by the tuition changes.

Campus administrators met with student leaders to explain why the increase is necessary.

Students entering the Chicago and Urbana-Champaign campuses for the first time in fall 2001 will pay an additional $500 in tuition for that year.

In fall 2002, a second increase of $500 would be added, bringing the total increase to $1,000 by the end of that academic year.

Students already enrolled at Urbana will pay a 5 percent increase in fall 2001.

The increase for new students is needed to improve services to students. Some of the improvements include adding more classes, improving the libraries, hiring more faculty members and repairing or remodeling buildings.

At Urbana, the funds are earmarked to build a "world-class faculty" and for undergraduate curriculum enhancements, Provost Richard Herman said.

"In order to deliver programs, we need a world class faculty," he said. "We need to offer students access through research at the undergraduate level."

Herman said although the state has been generous in funding, it cannot give the university what it needs to retain and attract faculty members.

"The state cannot do it all," he said. "It is very clear we are down faculty since 1998."

"This will go a long way to help us be competitive," UI President James J. Stukel said. "Quality matters."

Stukel said the increase is necessary to keep the university competitive with its counterparts.

"The issues we have to deal with are the number of courses available to undergraduate students and the faculty members," he said. "We are at a competitive disadvantage because of faculty losses."

Administrators say even with the increase, the UI is still a financial bargain.

"We’ve been quite diligent over the past decade at holding the line on tuition," said Chester Gardner, acting vice president for academic affairs.

"This increase is enormously important to this university. Our goal is service to our students. We want them to have a marvelous educational experience."

Gardner credited the faculty for raising an increasing amount of funds for research through gifts, grants and contracts in the past decade.

"Our faculty are working very hard to help raise resources," he said.

New students will pay most of the increase because they will be the ones to see the benefits of the increase, Gardner said.

"The benefits that will accrue from this increase will be felt two or three years from now," he said. "We felt it was most fair students who will receive the benefits should pay."

Trustee Susan Gravenhorst said she believes it is time for an increase in tuition.

"I think we’ve been very fair in the past 10 years," she said. "I think it is a very reasonable increase."

Measures will be taken to make sure students who cannot afford the increase can still attend the UI, said board chairman Gerald Shea.

"We have ensured we won’t turn away any student," he said.

Student trustees Neil Calderon from the Springfield campus and Erin Glezen from the Urbana-Champaign campus cast their advisory votes against the tuition increase.

Chicago student trustee Arun Reddy voted for the increase, but urged the administrators on each campus to consult students about where the funds should be used.

"As president, I will make the commitment that the provosts on each campus will have a continuing dialogue with students," Stukel said.

"This is a very ambitious increase, a very ambitious plan," Stukel said.

Tuition increases earmarked for

• Hiring more faculty members
  
• Undergraduate curriculum enhancements.
  
• Academic advising and career placement
  
• Educational technology programs and infrastructure
  
• Improvements to libraries
  
• Laboratory and classroom modernization
  
• Graduate fellowships
  
• Student financial aid