Higher fees possible for university students

Friday, April 7, 2000 | 10:17 a.m.

RENO -- Students at the University and Community College System of Nevada should brace themselves for modest fee increases in 2002 and 2003.

Acting Chancellor Tom Anderes told the Board of Regents Thursday that a committee has suggested a 3.4 percent increase per credit hour in each of the two years in the next biennium. The system has followed the policy of raising fees every biennium using the Higher Education Price Index plus 1 percent, he said.

Anderes said he will take the proposal to public hearings April 25 at UNLV and April 27 at Truckee Meadows Community College in Reno to allow students to voice their opinions. He said he hoped to schedule sessions at other campuses.

Trenton Johnson, student body president at the University of Nevada, Reno, endorsed the increase but added that part of the revenue should be returned to meet student needs. He said some programs have been reduced in recent years due to a lack of money.

Under the proposal the per credit registration for an undergraduate at the universities, which will be $74 next semester, would rise to $76.50 in 2002 and $79 in 2003. A credit at the community colleges would go from $42.50 to $44 and then $45.50.

And the plan envisions setting a fee for the proposed four-year state college in Henderson starting in 2002 at $60 per credit and then at $62 in 2003.

Fees for graduate students would rise from $100 per credit to $103.50 in 2002 and $107 the next year. A graduate student at Henderson would pay $77 in 2002 and $80 in 2003.

In addition to these fees, students pay a $4 per credit fee to pay for added technology on the campuses.

Tuition for nonresidents at the universities would rise from $6,980 to $7,215 and $7,450. At the community colleges the $4,150 tuition would go to $4,290 and then to $4,430. These students also pay registration fees.

The regents will decide in May whether to go along with the recommendations on the fee increase.