ALBUQUERQUE (KRQE) – Students at the University of New Mexico may be expected to pay more for tuition.
The board of regents is planning to vote on a tuition hike for next year. This comes after UNM President Bob Frank’s proposal to boost rates.
If the hike is approved, fees would go up by 1.5 percent for students at the main campus in Albuquerque.
UNM staff say the hike is important for the quality of education, but some students say they just don’t want to have to pay more.
If the hike is approved, it would give faculty a three percent raise and staff a two percent raise. The overall 1.5 percent tuition hike means in-state undergraduate students will pay $48 more each semester. Currently, tuition is $3,200 per semester.
School officials say the same percentage of tuition would be set aside for financial aid.
UNM staff council president Gene Henley said the change is necessary because cost of living is rising and the university should be able to pay faculty and staff at a competitive rate.
“If we cannot attract and attain staff to do those roles, the quality will suffer so we believe this is an investment ,” Henley said.
Some students see it differently.
“Our students have consistently had to pay more. Can we give our students a break from continuously have to pay year after year,” said ASUNM President Isaac Romero.
The board meeting begins Friday at noon.
Tuition at the other UNM campuses is expected to stay the same.