CEDAR FALLS – The blow dealt to students Thursday by the Board of Regents will be softened by President Gregory Geoffroy’s plans to increase the amount of tuition revenue that funds student aid to at least 18 percent.

Geoffroy told the Board of Regents that $4.86 million will be set aside from the nearly $27 million in revenue that will be generated by the approved 18.5 percent base tuition increase for Iowa State.

Iowa State is three years into a five-year plan to increase financial aid funds, Geoffroy said.

Earlier this month, the Government of the Student Body formally requested Geoffroy increase the current 11 percent set aside for financial aid to at least 16 percent.

The GSB Senate withdrew a resolution to endorse the request after they were informed of Geoffroy’s planned proposal, GSB President Andy Tofilon said.

“We have a huge victory today with financial aid,” Tofilon said. “We may have lost on the battlefield of tuition, but we won in negotiations with President Geoffroy.”

Vice President for Student Affairs Thomas Hill said alleviating the tuition increase’s impact on students is a major priority for the administration.

“Every financial situation is really different,” he said. “We will approach this thing in response to individual needs. If students come to my office needing aid, we’ve been able to assist them.”

Hill cautioned students not to simply assume they won’t be able to make ends meet.

“To lose a student because of $600 is uncalled for,” he said.

– Michaela Saunders