by Jennifer Onuska
ASUNM President
and Duff Lill
ASUNM Lobby Director
and Ed Mazel
ASUNM Lobby Director
Tuition credits . . . they sound like a good thing, right? Unfortunately, from a student's perspective, they are quite the opposite. A tuition credit can be translated as a tuition increase.
Funding for the University of New Mexico from the New Mexico Legislature is based off of a complex funding formula. To create a less complex, more mission-based formula a Blue Ribbon Task force was established. Throughout the past year, the Blue Ribbon Task Force refined and created a new formula.
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On Nov. 15, the Commission on Higher Education members met to discuss the feasibility of this new formula. Their recommendation to the Legislature is to accept the new formula. Along with this recommendation, they have proposed a 3 percent increase in the tuition credit for all higher educational institutions.
The Legislature will consider the commission's recommendation during the upcoming legislative session. The Legislature decides how much funding New Mexico's institutions of higher education receive. If the Legislature does not allocate enough money to our University, the decision to cover the difference will fall to the Board of Regents. The Board of Regents will be faced with decisions of cutting back on programs and projects in conjunction with the possibility of raising our tuition. Therefore, if the commission's recommendation is accepted without any additional amendments, each student will be facing a minimum of 3 percent increase in tuition.
Last year, our tuition was increased by 4.3 percent. Unfortunately, New Mexico's economy is in no better shape than the previous year. With limited resources, and unlimited needs, our state is in a predicament. Thus, tuition may increase by more than 3 percent.
So what can you, as students, do about this situation?
First of all, learn more about the tuition process and attend the Associated Students of UNM's tuition forum Dec. 4, 6 p.m. in the Kiva Lecture Hall. The Vice President of Business and Finance, Julie Weaks Gutierrez, will be there to explain the tuition process in detail. She will answer any questions you have or address any major concerns.
During the upcoming legislative session, we will be lobbying the Legislature to receive full funding of the formula with a minimal tuition increase. If you would like to join in our efforts please contact ASUNM. UNM Day at the Legislature is Feb. 10, and we invite all UNM students to aid us in our lobby endeavors and voice their opinions. If you would like to attend UNM Day at the Legislature, we will have an educational meeting on Feb. 6 at 5:30 p.m. The location has yet to be announced.
ASUNM Lobby Committee . . . fighting for the students and their rights!
Students can contact the ASUNM offices at 277-5528 or go to the Student Services Building, Room 262.
