The Board of Regents will meet on campus Tuesday and Wednesday to discuss next year’s tuition increase. During the meeting, regent members will also discuss the possibility of making changes to the current tuition policy.

Currently, Iowa Code states the Board of Regents must decide on a final tuition rate by its November meeting.

The Board of Regents Office typically releases a proposed tuition rate for the next academic year during its September meeting.

This year, however, the regents will vote on the tuition rate in November, after discussion between the regents, student leaders and university leaders occurs during the September and October meetings.

The regents have also expressed interest in reviewing and possibly altering the tuition policy before a tuition rate is recommended for next year. The current tuition policy was approved in 1997.

One of the changes regents will discuss is the possibility of charging different tuition amounts for different majors, class levels or the amount of credit hours being taken.

“The student expectations, budgets and state appropriations have undergone a dramatic change in the past few years,” said Gregory Nichols, executive director of the Board of Regents. “It seemed very sensible to take a look at our overall policies.”

Regent David Neil of La Porte City, one of only two regents who voted against the tuition increase last year, said he feels reviewing the policy is the right course of action.

“[The September meeting] represents a very timely discussion on setting tuition,” he said.

The regents will also review the requests for state appropriations for the 2005 fiscal year. The funds requested from the state legislature include salary funding, operating budget funding, tuition replacement and capital projects funding. All requests for state funding must be submitted to the state by Oct. 1.

Board of Regents President Owen Newlin of Des Moines and Regent Amir Arbisser of Davenport will not be able to attend the meeting this week. Regent Deborah Turner of Des Moines will fill the role of president for Newlin, who is recovering from heart surgery.

The meeting will take place in the Sun Room of the Memorial Union.