“The two-plus-two tuition model allowed for the avoidance of hard discussions about the political and economic environment that the regent universities are submersed in,” Simpson said. “The result of poor decision-making is yet another unpredicted tuition increase.”

Regent Subhash Sahai also expressed surprise at the 2017 Legislature’s cuts to higher education, which he called the “great equalizer.”

“I am surprised that we are seeing that much of a cut in education funding at this crucial time in our state,” Sahai said. “I think the Legislature, the people who are responsible for these hikes, should be looking at that maybe a little harder and see what our priorities are and see what we need to do.”

UNI President Mark Nook said the proposed increase — which would bring UNI in-state undergraduate tuition to $7,456 — would not make up for the cuts the university sustained.

Across the regents institutions, the Legislature cut $30.3 million in both the 2017 and 2018 fiscal year as compared with its original 2017 appropriation. The tuition increases are expected to generate $25.7 million.

UNI sustained cuts of $3.3 million; the tuition increase is expected to generate about $2 million for the university.

“We will still be looking for ways to provide the high-quality education and meet our budget with the reduction in our total resources,” Nook said at the meeting. “It is a difficult challenge.”

Love 0 Funny 1 Wow 0 Sad 2 Angry 6