Despite the opposition of many students, a Kansas University governance group endorsed a plan that would more than double tuition in the next five years.
The plan now goes to KU administrators, who will present a tuition plan to the Board of Regents in May. Chancellor Robert Hemenway said after the meeting that the proposal would be part of his decision-making process, but he would continue talking with students, faculty and staff.
“I consider their input very important,” he said of the committee. But he stopped short of saying he’d accept the plan.
“I’m not going to comment on amounts at this point,” he said. “I’ve been amassing a lot of data this year.”
Thursday’s vote endorsed a plan completed by the Ad Hoc Committee on University Funding, a committee of students, faculty, staff and administrators. The group has been meeting since January.
Under the plan, tuition would be phased in from $77.50 per credit hour to $160.25 per credit hour in next five years.
Every faculty and staff member at the meeting voted in favor of the increase. Just two of 10 students backed the plan.
The committee’s priority list for spending the money included graduate teaching and research stipends, nonfaculty salaries, online enrollment, additional faculty positions, improved teaching facilities and minority recruitment and retention.
The committee included 20 percent of the money for financial aid. But several students said they were concerned others wouldn’t be able to afford the increases.
“The people this is going to affect are the people who need an education most,” said Branden Bell, a student senator.
Andrew Bailey, another student senator, said the increase was needed for KU’s future.
“The state’s not going to fund us what we need,” he said. “Higher ed is going to get cut. Are we willing to let things get chopped, or are we willing to step up and help fill the gap?”
Despite the opposition of many students, a Kansas University governance group endorsed a plan that would more than double tuition in the next five years.
The plan now goes to KU administrators, who will present a tuition plan to the Board of Regents in May. Chancellor Robert Hemenway said after the meeting that the proposal would be part of his decision-making process, but he would continue talking with students, faculty and staff.
“I consider their input very important,” he said of the committee. But he stopped short of saying he’d accept the plan.
“I’m not going to comment on amounts at this point,” he said. “I’ve been amassing a lot of data this year.”
Thursday’s vote endorsed a plan completed by the Ad Hoc Committee on University Funding, a committee of students, faculty, staff and administrators. The group has been meeting since January.
Under the plan, tuition would be phased in from $77.50 per credit hour to $160.25 per credit hour in next five years.
Every faculty and staff member at the meeting voted in favor of the increase. Just two of 10 students backed the plan.
The committee’s priority list for spending the money included graduate teaching and research stipends, nonfaculty salaries, online enrollment, additional faculty positions, improved teaching facilities and minority recruitment and retention.
The committee included 20 percent of the money for financial aid. But several students said they were concerned others wouldn’t be able to afford the increases.
“The people this is going to affect are the people who need an education most,” said Branden Bell, a student senator.
Andrew Bailey, another student senator, said the increase was needed for KU’s future.
“The state’s not going to fund us what we need,” he said. “Higher ed is going to get cut. Are we willing to let things get chopped, or are we willing to step up and help fill the gap?”
Despite the opposition of many students, a Kansas University governance group endorsed a plan that would more than double tuition in the next five years.
The plan now goes to KU administrators, who will present a tuition plan to the Board of Regents in May. Chancellor Robert Hemenway said after the meeting that the proposal would be part of his decision-making process, but he would continue talking with students, faculty and staff.
“I consider their input very important,” he said of the committee. But he stopped short of saying he’d accept the plan.
“I’m not going to comment on amounts at this point,” he said. “I’ve been amassing a lot of data this year.”
Thursday’s vote endorsed a plan completed by the Ad Hoc Committee on University Funding, a committee of students, faculty, staff and administrators. The group has been meeting since January.
Under the plan, tuition would be phased in from $77.50 per credit hour to $160.25 per credit hour in next five years.
Every faculty and staff member at the meeting voted in favor of the increase. Just two of 10 students backed the plan.
The committee’s priority list for spending the money included graduate teaching and research stipends, nonfaculty salaries, online enrollment, additional faculty positions, improved teaching facilities and minority recruitment and retention.
The committee included 20 percent of the money for financial aid. But several students said they were concerned others wouldn’t be able to afford the increases.
“The people this is going to affect are the people who need an education most,” said Branden Bell, a student senator.
Andrew Bailey, another student senator, said the increase was needed for KU’s future.
“The state’s not going to fund us what we need,” he said. “Higher ed is going to get cut. Are we willing to let things get chopped, or are we willing to step up and help fill the gap?”
Despite the opposition of many students, a Kansas University governance group endorsed a plan that would more than double tuition in the next five years.
The plan now goes to KU administrators, who will present a tuition plan to the Board of Regents in May. Chancellor Robert Hemenway said after the meeting that the proposal would be part of his decision-making process, but he would continue talking with students, faculty and staff.
“I consider their input very important,” he said of the committee. But he stopped short of saying he’d accept the plan.
“I’m not going to comment on amounts at this point,” he said. “I’ve been amassing a lot of data this year.”
Thursday’s vote endorsed a plan completed by the Ad Hoc Committee on University Funding, a committee of students, faculty, staff and administrators. The group has been meeting since January.
Under the plan, tuition would be phased in from $77.50 per credit hour to $160.25 per credit hour in next five years.
Every faculty and staff member at the meeting voted in favor of the increase. Just two of 10 students backed the plan.
The committee’s priority list for spending the money included graduate teaching and research stipends, nonfaculty salaries, online enrollment, additional faculty positions, improved teaching facilities and minority recruitment and retention.
The committee included 20 percent of the money for financial aid. But several students said they were concerned others wouldn’t be able to afford the increases.
“The people this is going to affect are the people who need an education most,” said Branden Bell, a student senator.
Andrew Bailey, another student senator, said the increase was needed for KU’s future.
“The state’s not going to fund us what we need,” he said. “Higher ed is going to get cut. Are we willing to let things get chopped, or are we willing to step up and help fill the gap?”
