In a single breath, tuition for students at all three Iowa Regent universities increased by 3.9 percent Thursday.

The state Board of Regents, during their monthly meeting at the University of Iowa in Iowa City, voted unanimously to raise tuition and fees, including computer and student health charges, beginning with the 1998-99 academic year.

Iowa State President Martin Jischke said he was pleased with the outcome of the vote to raise tuition.

“The proposed increase is an appropriate one,” he said.

Jischke said the increase will allow the universities to cover inflationary costs and expenses of increased enrollments.

Before the vote, the Regents discussed several factors involved in raising tuition.

Regent James Arenson stressed Iowa universities should be focused on providing a quality education, not just an inexpensive education. He said Iowa schools are charging less in tuition and required fees than the national average by about $750.

“Students need to feel very fortunate that we’re receiving a great education for as little money,” said Student Regent Lisa Ahrens, an ISU sophomore in agronomy.

However, Ahrens said a number of students had voiced concerns to her about how the extra tuition revenue would be used.

Government of the Student Body President Rob Wiese and U of I Student Government President Allison Miller, who both spoke before the Regents, emphasized students’ requests for input into expenditures and administrative accountablity.

“Students support a 3.9 percent increase — if we know where it’s going,” Wiese said.

Miller and Jacqueline Comito, graduate and professional student- senate executive officer, presented a survey conducted by the U of I Student Government State Relations Committee.

In the survey, U of I students were asked to rank how they would like tuition revenue to be spent. The survey reported the highest priority for students is to maintain and increase student aid, with 48 percent of students ranking it as their first choice.

Wiese called attention to the number of students who would be seriously affected by the tuition increase. He and Jillene Hamill-Wilson, GSB nontraditional senator, handed out petitions and letters from ISU students protesting the increase and explaining their college debt.

Wiese said many students fall into the “middle ground.” These students are not eligible for grants, but they also cannot afford to pay for college by themselves, he said.

Regent David Fisher asked the board if students receiving financial aid would be affected by the increase.

Owen Newlin, president of the Board of Regents, said these students would not be affected because section two of the proposals provide for “substantive increases in financial aid.”

This section states: “That general institutional financial aid for students be increased at the same rate as the increase in tuition and mandatory fees to maintain access for those students having financial need to attend the universities.”

“Those on student aid are not going to see an increase,” Fisher said.

Jischke said some of the money from the tuition increase will be earmarked for Student Aid Set Aside, which is the fund for need-based financial aid and scholarships.

He referred to page 13 of the fiscal report in the general docket, where appropriations were listed.

In response, Wiese said, “It’s all well and good to see [the appropriations] on the docket, but we need to see it on our campus.”

According to the docket, the extra tuition at ISU will also go to:

• Student enrollment services ,including programs in recruitment, admissions, retention and career services.

• Instructional support to address increased enrollments, including availability of courses and evening courses for nontraditional students.

• The implementation of diversity/international course requirements.

• Enhancements of major instructional equipment.

• Replacement and expansion of computational equipment.

• Budgetary formalization of the Saturday MBA program.

• Expansion and improvement of research facilities, equipment and research activity.

• Building repairs — including instructional and research facility upgrades and safety-related projects of high priority.

Wiese said he was pleased with efforts to increase university accountablity.

“We would’ve liked a lower increase, but I think we’ve made some headway into getting some accountablity. We’ve got to work with what we have,” he said.

Wiese also said he was encouraged by the comments of the Regents, especially Ahrens, the student representative. “They understand better what we’re going through now,” he said.

“We didn’t win the battle, but we are making some headway,” he said.