Update: The proposal was approved.
When the UA board of trustees meets in Pine Bluff this Friday, they’ll consider tuition and fee increases for some University of Arkansas System institutions including the UA campus in Fayetteville.
According to a news release issued Monday morning, the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville would see a $13.53 estimated tuition/mandatory fee increase per credit hour. The 6 percent increase is not the highest swell proposed, but at $239.11 per credit hour, the Fayetteville campus would still be the costliest in the system.
With no expectations of new state funding, system officials are asking students to help pay for items such as facility maintenance, technology needs, rising benefit costs, new faculty members and other costs associated with increasing student enrollments.
“We must continue to keep tuition as reasonable as possible while maintaining quality at our institutions,” said Dr. B. Alan Sugg, president of the UA System in the release. “It’s never easy to raise tuition, but I believe these proposed increases are necessary in an environment of rising costs, flat state appropriations and significantly increasing enrollment.”
According to the release, four-year universities in the UA System received an average of $7,019 per student in state appropriations in 2008-09 compared to $6,269 in 2010-11, a decrease of 11 percent. These trends are expected to continue in 2011-12.
Facilities fees are also set to see an increase. Under the proposal, fees at the Fayetteville campus would increase from $6 per credit hour to $8 per credit hour.
UA colleges and universities plan to hold off on providing pay increases for faculty and staff. Campus officials will monitor state revenue collections to determine whether raises or one-time bonuses can be provided later in the year.
Download the full UA system release
Proposed tuition/mandatory fees increase
Per credit hour
| School | Fall 2010 | Fall 2011 | Increase |
|---|---|---|---|
| UA Fort Smith | $163.93 | $175.57 | 7.10% |
| UA Monticello | $166.33 | $176.33 | 6.01% |
| UA Fayetteville | $225.58 | $239.11 | 6.00% |
| UA Little Rock | $221.41 | $234.68 | 5.99% |
| UA Pine Bluff | $167.75 | $177.65 | 5.90% |
Proposed facilities fees increase
Per credit hour, unless otherwise noted
| School | Fall 2010 | Fall 2011 |
|---|---|---|
| UA Fort Smith | $0 | $20/semester |
| UA Little Rock | $3 | $5 |
| UA Fayetteville | $6 | $8 |
| UA Monticello | $10 | $11 |
| UA Pine Bluff | $13.25 | $14 |
Source: UA System
