Panel stalls on tuition vote
By Berny Morson, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)
Originally published 12:30 a.m., March 8, 2008
Updated 02:43 a.m., March 8, 2008
The Colorado Commission on Higher Education on Friday was leaning toward a cap on tuition increases of up to 9 percent.
But the panel failed to vote, with some of the seven members present saying they had not had enough time to review the proposal.
Also stifling a vote was a concern about how much of the tuition increase at Metropolitan State College will pay for the science building going up on Speer Boulevard, rather than program costs.
The commission will come back Tuesday to vote.
The Department of Higher Education's staff recommendation calls for a 9 percent cap on tuition increases at research institutions - the University of Colorado, Colorado State University, the Colorado School of Mines and the University of Northern Colorado.
The cap would be 7 percent at other four-year schools and 5 percent at the community colleges.
But students eligible for financial aid at all institutions would see only a 5 percent increase.
The tuition issue could be settled by the time the CCHE reconvenes Tuesday. The legislature's Joint Budget Committee has scheduled votes Monday on the higher-education budget, and tuition probably will be part of the panel's calculation.
"When you don't send something forward to the JBC, they will make something up for you," Sen. Sue Windels, D-Arvada, the chairwoman of the Senate education committee, warned CCHE members during a lengthy meeting.
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March 8, 2008
8:27 a.m.
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buzzman writes:
Of all the things to increase cost, do not increase tuition. An educated populace is our best assset. For chrisake-- increase tax on tobacco and fast food-
Morons-
March 10, 2008
9:05 a.m.
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That_Guy writes:
News flash: According to education experts (www.sheeo.org) Colorado is 49th in higher education, and 50th in how the state supports its colleges/universities. Unless the state can come up with the money to fund its schools tuition hikes of only 9% will be a luxury.
Stop complaining about schools trying to stay open and start complaining about your government's failure to its own citizens. This money is needed for things like building maintenance, taxes, water, electricity, and staff salalries, health insurance, etc. Before you complain about fat faculty salaries take a look at where the money goes.