University System of Maryland Chancellor Brit Kirwan will recommend an average tuition increase of 5.8 percent for fall 2005 today, and while a recent funding boost was enough to keep a recommended increase in the single digits, some officials think it could be lower still.
Earlier this month, the General Assembly was unable to override Gov. Bob Ehrlich’s veto of a bill that would have secured an increase of 5 percent, but some regents hope they can still accomplish what the legislature could not.
Led by Regent Jim Rosapepe, some of the regents will propose a system policy that would cap increases at 5 percent for the next three years so long as the budget covers increased enrollment and an increase in per-student funding.
“Given that a strong, bipartisan majority of the General Assembly [passed the bill last spring] and that the governor has funded most of USM’s request for FY 2006, I believe it is appropriate that the USM Board of Regents shows fiscal restraint and responsiveness to public concern by limiting the tuition increases,” Rosapepe said in a written statement.
Because Ehrlich pledged to allocate the system about $800 million — a 5.7 percent increase over last year — many university and system officials are relieved after consecutive double-digit tuition increases but are still wary of the future.
“I think everybody feels that we’ve made an important first step in rebuilding our general fund,” Kirwan said.
“We’re very grateful that the governor has put substantial resources into higher education. … But, it doesn’t bring us back to where we use to be,” said university President Dan Mote.
Board of Regents Chairman Cliff Kendall said he is also grateful the added funding has allowed for a single-digit tuition increase, but there is still concern for the coming years because of an expected influx of applicants, mandatory cost increases and a responsibility of the system to continue following its mission of affordability and accessibility as an “economic driver” of the state.
Even with a 5.7 percent increase in higher education funding, the university’s share comes to a 4 percent increase after money earmarked for specific projects is distributed. For the university to break even and to maintain the same operations it has now, including inflation, the state and tuition budget has to have an increase of 5 percent each, Mote said. Because the university will experience a 4 percent growth, tuition needs to be increased by at least 5.9 percent, he said. The system’s general fund is seeing a 4.8 percent increase, Kirwan said.
The university is still roughly $110 million behind in funding from where it was before the state budget cuts two years ago, including inflation costs, Mote said. For program growth, there would need to be at least a 6 percent budget increase.
The meeting will be held at 1 p.m. at the UMUC Inn and Conference Center.
