UNM's Board of Regents, trying to decipher a still uncertain legislative future, might be forced to agree to a 4 percent tuition increase.
The state Legislature has proposed the 4 percent increase after deciding not to support the Commission on Higher Education's suggested 3.5 percent.
In preparing a preliminary outline for the University's full funding formula, the revenue expected to be generated by UNM, the Legislature assumed the regents will accept the increase.
The University stands to make more than $8.8 million this year, but not if the 4 percent tuition increase is not implemented, effectively putting the regents' backs against the wall.
Julie Weaks-Gutierrez, vice president of business and finance, said UNM is the lowest in terms of tuition increases in recent years among its 16 peer institutions across the United States.
Tuition at UNM was raised a total of 4.5 percent last year.
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She said if the regents opt not to allow the 4 percent increase on in-state, undergraduate tuition, the University will be shorted the $8.8 million. According to University records, the tuition increase would bring in an estimated $2.6 million for the University.
UNM regents were split on their opinions of the situation.
Regent Sandra Begay-Campbell said the choice of whether the tuition increase is essential is a no-brainer, and the regents should support it.
UNM President Louis Caldera, relying on his experience as a lobbyist, said the University will be all right financially regardless of which way the regents go on the decision.
"If we do anything less than 4 percent, we will find the additional revenue somewhere else," he said. "If the regents accept the four percent increase, we will use the money on other projects on campus."
Caldera said, though, it is still too early to make such decisions.
"It all depends on what the budget picture looks like," he said.
Jamie Koch, president of the board, said he agreed with Caldera and said he still has questions he needs answered before he will agree to any tuition increases.
"We don't like tuition increases," he said. "We are going to take our time with this decision."
