Summer tuition and fees at Oregon's seven public universities will jump an average 8.9 percent this year as campuses adjust rates to the regular school year.

The

unanimously approved increases during its meeting at

Friday, where it also evaluated

chancellor of the

in executive session. The board took no action on Pernsteiner's contract, which expires in June.

In addition, board member

of Roseburg outlined plans for a national search to replace ousted University of Oregon

, whose last day was Dec. 28. Robert Berdahl, a veteran administrator and former UO dean, is serving as interim president.

The tuition increases reflect a three-year plan to bring summer tuition on campuses up to the levels of the regular year.

Though only the second year of the phase-in, all but the

complete the shift this summer. Fees, however, will average 54 percent lower next summer than other quarters.

The

is concerned about "exorbitant price increases," which exceed tuition increase ceilings the association worked out with the Oregon University System, said Tiffany Dollar, board chair of the association and PSU student.

Students were especially alarmed about tuition increases of 17.7 percent at

in Corvallis,11.6 percent at OSU's campus in Bend and 84 percent at the UO law school, she said, arguing increases on that scale should be phased in over more years.

Finally, if universities are going to raise tuition to the levels of the regular year, they also should provide the same services, Dollar said. Typically, she said, "there are few resources on campus, reduced library hours, fewer study spaces" during summer.

Universities historically have charged less during the summer to attract students and use their buildings for shorter specialty courses. But in recent years, summer sessions have evolved into more substantial programs on a par with the regular year, university officials said.

It also is unfair to put students who must work summers at a disadvantage by denying them lower summer rates, said Mark Weiss, interim president of

Lorraine Davis, acting UO senior vice president and provost, said the law school raised summer tuition because the session has become like every other quarter. The school "did not want the regular year to subsidize summer classes, which was what was happening," she said.

Students complained the comment period on this round of tuition increases came after Thanksgiving when they were cramming for finals. But from now on, the universities will adjust tuition for the entire year in spring, a move that should give students a chance to weigh in.

Tuition and fee increases by individual campuses for a resident undergraduate student taking 12 hours next summer range from 5.3 percent at

in La Grande to 16.6 percent at OSU.

The average 8.9 percent jump for the Oregon University System will bring tuition and fees to $1,989. That's still about 11 percent lower than other quarters, mostly because of lower fees.

A resident undergraduate tuition and fees will range from $1,668 at Eastern to $2,422 at OSU.

Graduate tuition and fees jump even more: 12 credits will range from 4 percent at Eastern to 25.9 percent at

in Ashland.

Those increases bring tuition and fees up to an average $3,988 systemwide, with prices varying from $3,444 at Eastern to $4,413 at PSU.

On the issue of replacing the UO president Lariviere, board member Ford, who is leading the search, said officials will assemble a search committee of about 20 faculty, staff, students, alumni and community members by the end of the month. Chancellor Pernsteiner and his staff will soon choose a search firm to find candidates.

"Our hope is we really start knocking on doors in February," Ford said.

The process should produce finalists by June, but quality will take precedence over speed, he said. The board, which fired Lariviere for defying its directions on lobbying and pay raises, hopes to have a new president in place by September.