From Rep. Sharon Steckman –
The Iowa Board of Regents has proposed another tuition freeze next year for students. The Regents, which govern Iowa’s three public universities, presented their budget request to the Legislature’s Fiscal Committee recently in Cedar Falls.
Overall, the board requested a $41.5 million increase for fiscal year 2015 as part of the Education Appropriations budget. The request includes a 4% increase in general aid for ISU, UI, and UNI, and an additional $10 million for UNI.
If the Legislature approves this portion of the budget request, the board proposes freezing resident undergraduate tuition for a second consecutive year.
The Regents also presented an increase in funding for capital projects, including fire and environmental safety deficiencies, deferred maintenance, and campus safety improvements. They also requested funding for three new buildings vetoed by the Governor last session, including:
$6 million for the planning phase of the UI Pharmacy Building
$5 million for the planning phase of the ISU Biosciences Building
$3 million for the planning phase of the UNI Schindler Education Center
Why can’t the schools pay their own way? Don’t ask for citizens to bankroll their money needs, if they need the money, make the kids who want to use the schools pay for the privilege.