Once again, students at Iowa State, the University of Iowa and the University of Northern Iowa will pay more in tuition during the 1999-2000, by as much as 5.2 percent.

The Iowa Board of Regents will be presented with a 5.2 percent proposed tuition increase at its meeting Sept. 23 and 24 in Iowa City. The members will make their final decision at the October meeting.

This proposal marks the first time tuition can be raised more than the rate of inflation, due to a change in Board of Regents policy last December.

While ISU administrators did not contribute to the proposal, they did support the figures.

“The administration of Iowa State thinks it is an appropriate proposal,” said John McCarroll, director of University Relations. “This is not a surprising recommendation.”

Student leaders, however, were not happy with the announcement.

Bryan Burkhardt, ISU’s Government of the Student Body president, said he was concerned about the impact a higher tuition will have on students.

“Every time the tuition goes up such a large percentage, it makes it harder to go to school here,” Burkhardt said.

Nancy Pellett, member of the board from Atlantic, said the regents are interested in hearing from students about the increase.

However, she said an increase is necessary because of the board’s mission to help universities become the best, which includes “hiring faculty of the highest quality” and purchasing “costly” equipment.

Frank Stork, executive director of the board, said the Board of Regents office still used an estimated inflation number to determine the rate of increase, but they used other factors as well.

The rate includes the 3.9 percent expected rate of inflation, plus a 2 percent increase to support “improving quality” at the regent universities, according to the Board of Regents docket.

In the past, tuition increases were “restricted to a rate no higher than the percentage change in the Higher Education Price Index (HEPI),” according to the docket.

McCarroll said the extra tuition funds are essential to increasing university services.

“It does take other than just routine steps,” he said.

McCarroll said the funds will be used in accordance with ISU’s strategic plan.

He said 43 percent of all “new money” is used for undergraduate education, including library services, computing and information technology and financial aid.

However, Burkhardt said money for these improved services should come from places other than increased tuition.

“I commend [the board] for looking ahead,” he said. “However, I think there are a lot of things that can be done beyond raising tuition.”

Burkhardt also expressed concern about the regents possibly increasing tuition for specific majors at U of I.

He said the regents can “set a precedent” that may adversely affect ISU students in the future.

“I think they really need to think long and hard about that,” he said.

Burkhardt said GSB members are planning to present students’ concerns to the board at its Iowa City meeting.

Stork encouraged students to make their feelings on the increase known to the Board of Regents at its meeting.

He said the board will listen to written and oral student concerns, which may ultimately affect the decision.

“Students have been effective in having a say on how the money is spent,” he said.