Riverland Community College students will likely see a tuition increase next year, though the exact amount is not known.

Monday, December 27, 1999

Riverland Community College students will likely see a tuition increase next year, though the exact amount is not known.

In mid-December, the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities discussed a proposal that could have raised tuition for 2000-2001 an average of 4.5 percent. The seven state universities were considering a 5.7 percent increase.

The increases would follow a 3.8 percent average rise for 1999-2000.

MnSCU is holding off on a final decision until it hears from the student senates.

&uot;The board decided to wait until all student senates could give their input,&uot; Said Gary Rhodes, president of Riverland Community College. The decision was postponed until Jan. 19, he added.

By the time of the Dec. 14 meeting, only a few student senates had an opportunity to discuss the increase. The Board of Trustees wanted to hear from more student representatives before making the final decision, Rhodes said.

Riverland Community College’s Student Senate supported the idea, he said.

&uot;They understand the situation and see the necessity,&uot; Rhodes said.

MnSCU officials may pursue additional funding in the upcoming legislative session, which would allow time next spring to cut tuition rates for 2000-2001, said Laura King, vice chancellor for finance.

Among the proposals being considered is a request for $11.6 million to cover costs tied to enrollment increases.

House Minority Leader Tom Pugh, D.-South St. Paul, said his caucus would support legislation that would dedicate some of the state’s $1.6 billion surplus to tuition relief.

Rep. Dan Dorman, R.-Albert Lea, said he didn’t think that was likely.

&uot;I don’t know how that would fit in a non-budget year,&uot; Dorman said.

If the surplus is used to fund programs, Dorman would rather see that money go to items that didn’t get the type of funding he thought they should.

&uot;I’m going to fight for more money for ethanol. It should’ve been done

last year, but it wasn’t,&uot; Dorman said. He would also support greater spending on the Department of Natural Resources and vocational education training.