Public hearings set on tuition and budget for MnSCU (revised)

Posted: April 29, 2002

Contact: Doug Anderson, doug.anderson@MinnState.edu, 651-201-1426

Public comment on a possible 10.2 percent average increase in tuition and fees will be gathered Wednesday and Thursday by a committee of the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities Board of Trustees as part of public hearings on the system's proposed 2003 fiscal year budget.

The average 10.2 percent tuition and fees increase proposed for the 2002-2003 academic year is slightly more than the 9.7 percent increase adopted for the current year. Under the proposal, full-time students would pay an average of $294 more in annual tuition and fees in 2002-2003.

The tuition and fees increases are lower than previous estimates for next year, despite a $22.7 million cut in the system's appropriation for the 2003 fiscal year by the Minnesota Legislature in response to a state budget deficit. The system is holding down the impact on tuition through administrative reductions, use of some reserve funds and program reductions and restructuring.

The public hearings on the system's budget, including tuition and fees, will be held by the Board of Trustees Finance and Facilities Policy Committee as follows:

  • 11 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Wednesday, May 1, at Inver Hills Community College, 2500 80th Street East, Inver Grove Heights, in Room 203 of Heritage Hall.

  • 1 p.m to 5 p.m. Thursday, May 2, at Ridgewater College, 2101 15th Avenue NW, Willmar, in the Large Community Room.

Advance registration is not required to speak at the hearing, but depending on the number of people who want to testify, there may be time limitations. To register in advance, contact Cynthia Nelsen at (651) 296-3755 or by e-mail at cynthia.nelsen@so.mnscu.edu.

Each of the 34 state colleges and universities proposed its own tuition increase to the Board of Trustees after consultation with students. The Board of Trustees will consider tuition and fees increases as part of the proposed $1.5 billion budget for the 2003 fiscal year during its meeting May 21 and 22.

The Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system is made up of 34 state universities, community colleges, technical colleges and comprehensive community and technical colleges, and serves about 225,000 students annually in credit-based courses.