The Arizona Board of Regents proposed a slight tuition increase for incoming resident and nonresident students at a discussion at the University of Arizona Tuesday, April 2. 

UA President Dr. Robert C. Robbins proposed a two-percent increase in tuition for incoming resident undergraduate students and a one-percent increase for incoming nonresident undergraduate students as outlined in his previously released tuition proposal. 

Current undergraduate students won’t see an increase in tuition, due to the UA’s guaranteed tuition program. 

“Tuition and fee increases comprise one small piece of institutional funding for the investments that will allow us to implement this vision,” Robbins wrote.  

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Robbins also proposed a 1.89 percent tuition increase for resident graduate students at UA’s Main Campus and a 1.59 percent tuition increase for resident graduate students at UA South Campus. Graduate nonresident students will not see a tuition increase for the 2019-2020 school year.

Dylan Barton, a UA psychology Ph.D. student and Graduate and Professional Student Council member, said he appreciates the proposed graduate tuition increase equates to the same dollar increase as undergraduate resident tuition but wants students to have more input regarding fees. 

“We graduate students are asking for a seat at the table when decisions are being made about how much money universities will acquire from our pockets, and we’re asking for fees to have a demonstrable impact on students that pay them and last only as long as needed,” Barton said. “Without these two actions, as graduate students and graduate student representatives, how could we possibly support any initiatives to support increased tuition and fees?”

With the exception of the Recreation Center Program fee, there are no proposed increases in mandatory fees. 

Natalynn Masters, student body president of Associated Students of the University of Arizona, said on behalf of student government and student body that she is in support of the proposed tuition increase. 

“One of the things that I want to highlight that came out of this discussion is really changing the process of tuition fee discussion so that it is a yearlong discussion and that students can truly be involved with voicing their opinions and understanding where their fee dollars go and understanding how tuition works at this institution,” Masters said.

Northern Arizona University’s President Rita Cheng said the university is committed to its guaranteed tuition program and its proposed tuition increase of 2.5 percent would be $260 higher than the current pledge rate for students. 

“This proposal incorporates students’ valuable insights, and it provides a strong foundation for the future,” Cheng said. 

          RELATED: Regents vote to change tuition-and-fee-setting process

Arizona State University President Michael Crow proposed to collapse individual fees into four categories, as well as a 2.8 percent tuition increase for resident students. 

“I can say upfront that ASU’s tuition is the lowest tuition offered in the United States for a person from Arizona to achieve a bachelor’s degree,” Crow said.

Ron Shoopman, ABOR’s chair of the board, said tuition will be decided April 11. 

Any further questions or remarks regarding the proposed tuition increase can be emailed to tuition@azregents.edu.

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