The fate of a proposed $100 tuition surcharge will be decided at Thursday’s Board of Regents meeting in Cedar Falls. Regardless of the Board’s choice of wether or not to implement the surcharge, the decision is sure to give way to new questions regarding tuition at Iowa’s Regents universities for the 2010-11 academic year.

The first item on the agenda calls for institutional heads to present budget revisions for FY2010 in response to Gov. Chet Culver’s 10 percent across-the-board budget cuts. ISU President Gregory Geoffroy’s plan will come from a series of recommendations made from university advisory committees and his budget cabinet.

“There is widespread input at every level,” said Tom Hill, vice president for student affairs, at a Government of the Student Body–sponsored open forum Monday, adding that students are part of the budget discussion.

Later in the meeting, a decision will be made regarding the board’s recommendation of a $100 tuition surcharge on students for the spring semester. If applied to all three regents universities, the one-time surcharge is expected to generate $5.7 million dollars — the equivalent of recovering 10 percent of the lost state appropriations. The surcharge would be prorated for part-time students.

Hill said the surcharge would apply to every student “across the board,” but “the financial aid office will address the issue with students that it does impose a hardship on.”

Jon Turk, GSB president and senior in political science, said he has noticed “two major camps” among students in regards to the proposed surcharge.

Some, he said, see $100 as a “drop in the bucket” and are willing to make what they see as a minor sacrifice to preserve the quality of education. Others, like himself, are concerned about the burden on students.

While he agrees quality must be maintained, Turk said, “$100 matters … I know it’s not a huge number, but it’s something you have to take into account.”

After a decision is made regarding the surcharge, the board will “consider the proposed conditional tuition and related fees for the 2010-2011 academic year,” according to the agenda. A decision is expected to be reached at the December meeting in Ames.

The board, according to the agenda, proposes a base annual tuition increase of 6 percent — compared to a previously discussed mid-HEPI 2.7 percent increase — for resident undergraduate and graduate students in response to the loss of $58.1 million in state appropriations. Tuition levels may be adjusted following the 2010 legislative session.

For resident undergraduates at the regents universities, the 6 percent increase would mean a $346 jump in tuition. Nonresident undergraduates would pay an extra $692 at a 4.1 percent increase.

The estimated increase in cost of attendance for resident undergraduates at Iowa State for the 2010-2011 academic year would be 3.2 percent, as compared to a 4.8 percent increase at the University of Iowa and a 3.1 percent increase at the University of Northern Iowa, according to data compiled by the board.

The discrepancy among schools can be partially attributed to proposed increases in mandatory fees. Iowa State proposes a 0 percent increase in mandatory fees, while the University of Iowa proposes a 23.7 percent increase and the University of Northern Iowa proposes a 3 percent increase.

Among a Board-established peer group of 10 other universities, Iowa State had the second-lowest number in undergraduate tuition and fees for both residents and nonresidents.

Turk expressed disappointment with the state for making the cuts that led to these proposals.

“There’s a reason we have public institutions like this,” Turk said.

He said that he understands where the proposed 6 percent increase comes from, but added that if it is approved, it introduces a lot of concerns about access and affordability — concerns he will raise at the Board of Regents meeting.

Tuition now accounts for more than 50 percent of the regents universities’ general funds. Because of this tuition-dominated revenue, Turk said, “It’s harder to garner as much of a savings from closing an academic program,” making closing programs a less viable option than it used to be.

At Monday’s forum, Hill said the university will work to “maintain the quality of services provided to students.”

In regards to the current budget reversion, Hill said, “We won’t be able to salvage everything as is … we’re trying to minimize the impact.”

If state revenues do not improve by next year, Hill said, cuts could end up being permanent.

“It’s going to take contributions, sacrifices, from everybody,” Hill said. “We’re much better off if we do it together.”

Jordan Smellie, senior in music education, expressed concerns that the current situation will affect his future education.

“I’m a born and raised Iowan,” he said. “I love this state and I love this university. But as it stands, I won’t be able to afford to go to graduate school — especially not in the state of Iowa.”

Hill acknowledged the situation and responded that what is happening in Iowa is also happening in other states, some of which have it worse.

“We’ve been here before,” Hill said. “We managed to make it. That’s the one thing we need to keep in mind.”

Hill later addressed the underlying factor of the budget cuts and possible setbacks.

“The biggest thing we can hope for is that the economy will turn around in the next eight months,” Hill said.