UNM President Louis Caldera spent his birthday at the second annual Budget Summit on Friday.
ASUNM President Kevin Stevenson presented Caldera with balloons and a cake, jokingly saying student fees had paid for them.
"I'm glad they didn't wait till the end of the day," Caldera said. "They may have changed their minds."
Each of the three scenarios offered by the University include a tuition and fees increase ranging from 8 percent to 12 percent.
"We can drone on and on about tuition going up, but we understand tuition is going up," Stevenson said.
Last year faculty received a 5 percent salary increase, in part because tuition was raised 12.8 percent.
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Stevenson said the tuition increase last year was justified. It was needed to compensate the faculty, he said.
"I'm not trying to downplay the importance of faculty compensation, but last year was the year of faculty compensation," he said. "This year needs to be the year of student services."
Stevenson said money should go to academic programs, University Libraries and advisement.
Wynn Goering, special assistant to the president, said no funds last year went to freshmen learning communities, counseling, tutoring, libraries, maintenance, faculty hiring and fund raising.
Goering presented three budget scenarios to the public.
He said UNM students pay less for their education than other college students, but a low-tuition budget is a challenge, because it costs a lot to run a research university.
Caldera said the scenarios consider a portion of the University's $1.48 billion budget. This year the University received a $20 million increase in state funds, some from tuition and some from formula funding, he said.
Caldera said he didn't think it was responsible to be as aggressive in increasing staff and faculty compensation this year.
All three scenarios include a 2 percent salary increase for faculty and staff.
Buckner Creel, GPSA president, said the association will not support a larger compensation than was mandated by the state. He asked for more funds to go to the Office of Graduate Admissions.
He said 40 percent of graduate students have assistantships that cover tuition costs. Professional students will have to pay the increase, Creel said.
"They will be hit with an additional 10 percent this year as they were hit by 12 percent last year," he said. "Try and keep tuition and compensation low."
Ed Desantis, Faculty Senate president, said funds given to the University by the state should be used for what they are designated for. He said the increase should be the same for faculty and administration.
He said the average salary increase should be 4 percent, although Faculty Senate voted for a 7 percent increase.
He added a comparable salary increase should be given to adjunct and associate professors and those at the Health Sciences Center.
Loyola Chastain, a member of Staff Council, presented an additional scenario titled scenario EE to stand for employee. This scenario included a 9 percent tuition and fees increase and a 4 percent compensation increase.
Chastain said there should be money for child care at UNM, a staff sabbatical program and improved conditions of faculty and staff locker rooms. She also recommended accommodated parking.
"Anything under 4 percent doesn't do this," she said. "Due to the generosity of ASUNM last year, we strongly support no more than a single-digit tuition increase."
Staff Council asked scenario EE be a write-in candidate when a survey was handed out to the public with the three budget options.
The Dean's Council advocated a 12 percent tuition increase and a 4 percent tuition increase.
The president's office will be tally the results of the survey and prepare a final budget for the April 11 regents meeting.
The Budget Summit is held for the public to give input on different ways the budget for the University is spent for the next fiscal year. It is organized after the legislature decides how much money the University will receive.
Last year was the first year of the summit at the University.
8 percent tuition and fees increase includes:
$244 tuition increase per year
+$38 technology fee
+$18 fee for SUB operations
=$300 tuition and fee increase per year
with $5.3 million allocated for compensation, including a 2 percent salary increase.
Known as Scenario A
____
10 percent tuition and fees increase includes:
$290 tuition increase per year
+$38 technology fee
+$18 fee for SUB operations
+$28 to fund building projects
= $290 tuition and fee increase per year
with $5.3 million allocated for compensation, including a 2 percent salary increase.
Known as Scenario B
____
12 percent tuition and fees increase includes:
$336 tuition increase per year
+$38 technology fee
+$18 fee for SUB operations
+$56 to fund building projects
=$448 tuition and fee increase per year
with $5.3 million allocated for
compensation, including a 2 percent salary increase.
Known as Scenario C
____
9 percent tuition and fees increase includes:
$337 tuition increase per year
+$38 technology fee
+18 fee for SUB operations
=$393 tuition and fee increase per year
with $9.7 million allocated for a 4 percent compensation increase.
Introduced at the Budget Summit by Staff Council as Scenario EE
