Regents asked UNM administrators to revise their 12 percent tuition and fee increase budget at a special regents meeting on Monday.
They asked for a tuition increase not in double-digits and a 4 percent raise for faculty and staff.
Regents also asked for the full participation of students, faculty and staff at the meeting.
Student Amanda Garcia said she went to the meeting because she was interested in the specifics of the tuition hike, such as where the money would go and the justification behind it.
"It's a big increase, and it's going to affect my brother who will be coming here in the fall and my fiance," she said.
She said she has the lottery scholarship, but she will still have to pay the fee increase.
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"I'm surprised there aren't more students here," she said at the beginning of the meeting, adding she might talk to the regents.
When the time for public opinion came, Johnny Geissman, a geology professor, was the only person who stood up to speak.
"My salary after 21 years at UNM still is below the average," he said. "Realize what you are deciding this afternoon when it comes to faculty and staff salaries."
Be careful what you wish for
UNM administrators presented a budget plan that included a 12 percent tuition and fee increase and a 3.25 percent compensation increase.
UNM President Louis Caldera said UNM has the lowest tuition in its peer group and would remain the lowest even if tuition and fees were increased 12 percent.
"We can't be the least expensive and the highest quality University," he said. "These monies, they're investing in their education."
Caldera said the majority of funding from last year's increase went to a 5 percent raise for faculty and staff.
"We were very proud to do that, because it sent a very important signal," he said. "But there were many other things we were not able to do last year."
ASUNM President Kevin Stevenson was adamant that student services such as advisement, tutoring and Freshman Learning Experiences get funded this year. He said for this to happen, tuition would have to be higher than the regents' suggested 7 percent to 8 percent.
"I'd rather see a higher tuition increase than have these programs fall in the cracks," he said.
Regent Raymond Sanchez told Stevenson he was impressed the student representatives were supporting higher tuition, but he should be careful what he wished for, saying the state Legislature could punish the University for a large tuition hike.
For example, he said, the state could increase the tuition credit. The tuition credit is how much the Legislature takes out of the total budget that it awards to UNM with the expectation the University will raise tuition by that amount.
A pledge to students
Regent Doug Brown said he applauded the priorities listed on the budget but wanted to get compensation up to the point where regents wouldn't hear stories like Geissman's. He said he also wanted the regents to continue their pledge to students.
He said the administration is working with a small portion of the University's $1.5 billion budget.
"I haven't heard anything yet about looking at University programs," he said. "Every month we look at obsolete equipment, but we don't look at obsolete programs."
He said from a $1.5 billion budget, officials could find $3 million to cover some of the line items that were driving tuition up, such as student services and staff for soliciting donations and gifts to UNM.
"I really think we need to look inward and not focus on a tuition increase," Brown said.
Caldera said $1 billion of the budget is restricted to patient care at UNMH and can't be used in the education budget. He said the education and administration budget is $400 million.
"It would involve wiping out all these priorities we have in this sheet," Caldera said. "We would simply have to take them out."
Jamie Koch, president of the regents, suggested the University do a better job of fund raising.
Caldera said getting more donations would help, but it won't happen overnight and it would be irresponsible to assume the University could raise enough funds to cover the priorities of the administration.
Regents suggested using some funds from the President's Club, a fund made up of donations, for Freshman Learning Experiences, a $300,000 item on the proposal.
Sharpen your pencils
Sanchez said a tuition increase should stay under double digits because students won't be completely covered by the lottery scholarship if tuition and fees go up.
He also said Geissman's statement made an impression on him, and faculty and staff should be given adequate compensation.
"I'm glad we're not making a decision today," he said. "I'm not ready."
Executive Vice President Davis Harris said the administration will look at the 10 percent scenario and try to incorporate what the regents want into the budget.
"Look at these numbers overnight and sharpen your pencils," said Regent Sandra Begay-Campbell.
Regents will vote on a budget plan today.
