University to increase tuition by at least 5 percent next year

The Board of Regents passed a resolution Wednesday to increase tuition by at least 5 percent but no more than 6.9 percent for next year.

The increase means students can expect to pay between $232 and $317 more.

President David Schmidly's budget proposal included funding for 50 more teaching assistant positions, Zimmerman Library to be open 24 hours and $1 million in scholarships for students.

ASUNM President Ashley Fate said the increase will help students.

"I think that it is really difficult to look tuition increases in the face," she said. "I think the programs in the budget proposed by President Schmidly are absolutely beneficial to students."

Schmidly also called for a 3 percent raise in faculty salaries, a 2 percent increase in staff salaries and a 10 percent hike in teacher assistant salaries.

Part-time faculty will also be compensated $500 more per class with the budget. It also calls for a 5 percent increase for staff making less than $30,000 and a raise in UNM's minimum wage to $9.

Schmidly said the increases are not drastic.

"UNM is the cheapest buy of any major university in the country," he said. "In a state where you need more college graduates, you need to offer an affordable education. But it's a balance, because you have to provide the services necessary to succeed."

The increase could be the largest since the Board of Regents passed a 9.9 percent increase in 2005. Last year, tuition went up by 5.4 percent.

However, Schmidly said 53.3 percent of students will not pay for the increase because the Lottery Success Scholarship will cover most of the extra costs.

Fate said it's a win-win situation for students.

"Thirty percent of the money goes to support faculty, 20.4 percent goes to support students and 19.4 percent goes to staff," she said. "The other 30 percent goes to line items benefiting all three."

The board passed the increase on the condition that Schmidly report back to the regents at a Finance and Facilities Committee meeting April 3 because his budget was unable to account for $46.9 million.

"The amount is reported in the annual financial report," Schmidly said. "I have studied this balance situation, and there are problems with the way the money is accounted for. It includes money that is restricted and money that is already encumbered, yet it is listed as fund balance as if it can be spent for any general purpose."

Regent Mel Eaves said the board could not make a final decision on a tuition increase until the money is accounted for.

Eaves said the Finance and Facilities Committee will propose a tuition increase to be approved at the next meeting April 8.

Despite the setback, Schmidly said the increase would not cost students a lot.

"The increase would equal two venti Starbucks drinks a week, three iTunes albums a month, two Frontier burritos a week - which will be good for all of our weights - two cases of beer a month, dinner for two once a month or taking a date to dinner and a movie twice a semester," he said. "You'll have to sacrifice one of those as the result of this increase."