Student governments at the three Iowa regent universities are gearing up for a second chance to present tuition proposals to the Board of Regents at its Ames meeting Wednesday and Thursday.

Regents will hear tuition presentations at this month’s meeting and will vote on the increase in November.

Charlie Johnson, vice president of the ISU Government of the Student Body, said GSB’s presentation will take a slightly different approach compared to September’s in response to the proposed 18.5 percent increase.

He said the current situation is even more urgent due to the strain placed on all three regent universities after Gov. Tom Vilsack proposed deappropriation of $46.9 million from the regent universities. Iowa State’s portion of this would be $18.56 million.

GSB will focus more on the balance between necessary increases in quality and continued accessibility of Iowa State, Johnson said.

“The university is facing a lot of extremely hard decisions right now,” he said. “We’re having the life choked out of us by the Legislature.”

Adam Briddell, president of University of Northern Iowa Student Government, said they altered their strategy due to the changes in proposed tuition increases.

“Previously, the proposed tuition increase was to make up for previous losses in the budget, not the deappropriation that we are currently facing,” he said. “We’re going to have to afford the regents some leniency, but I don’t think I’m alone when I say that 18.5 percent is too high.”

University of Iowa Student Government President Nick Klenske said his proposal will encourage the Board to put away extra funds for student financial aid, and remind it that the 18.5 percent proposal was made based on budget cuts that may not be as harsh as first expected.

The tuition increase proposal for nonresident tuition at the University of Iowa is 15.5 percent, which Klenske said makes the 40 to 50 percent of its out-of-state student population generally relieved.

It is important for decision-makers to hear the voices of students, Johnson said.

“The regents are not a cold impersonal group that you cannot approach,” he said. “If students have serious financial concerns, I would really encourage them to come and share that with the regents one on one.”

Johnson encouraged all students to attend the regents’ meeting, which begins at 1 p.m. Wednesday and again at 9 a.m. Thursday in rooms 230-240 of the Scheman Building. Tuition presentations will be given Thursday at the Scheman Building between 9 a.m. and noon.

“Students should . tell them how catastrophic an 18.5 percent tuition increase would be,” he said.

Mark Chidister, an assistant to ISU President Gregory Geoffroy, said students must remember the Board of Regents works for students.

“The Board of Regents are advocates in many respects,” Chidister said. “They are interested in maintaining high-quality institutions in the state of Iowa. They are not the ones handing out the budget cuts. They are appointed . They take their role very seriously, trying to protect the quality of education for today and for the future.”

Students at Iowa State are preparing to protest the proposed cuts. The ISU Graduate Student Senate is considering circulating a petition that rejects any tuition increase over 15.5 percent.

GSB is planning mass letter-writing campaigns, asking parents and alumni to contact their state representatives.

“Their voices will be the ones that will make higher education a priority in the state,” Johnson said. “We’re just looking for the support of Iowa State students.