INDIANAPOLIS (July 2, 2009) - Indiana's seven public colleges and universities should flat line any planned tuition hikes this year because of economic hardships faced by Hoosiers, says one Indiana lawmaker.
State Sen. Mike Delph (R-Carmel) said he opposes the Indiana Commission for Higher Education's non-binding recommendation made earlier today that higher education institutions limit tuition increases to 5 percent or less.
"Given our state's massive job losses and widespread business closings, our public colleges and universities this year should look to cost-cutting and avoid raising fees on those seeking new job skills," Delph said.
Higher education is one area of the recently passed state budget that was protected, Delph said. With declining sales and income tax revenues, lawmakers cut funding across the board by an average of 10 percent, except for K-12 schools, universities and public safety.
"Our campuses are being spared massive cuts being considered across the country by legislatures elsewhere," Delph said. "And they are not facing increases in the inflation rate or cost-of-living that might otherwise justify an upward spiral in operating costs."
According to the Consumer Price Index, monthly figures show declines each month from December 2008 to May 2009 except for February.
"I call upon each university president, administration and board of trustees to use their collective brainpower to contain and reduce costs rather than generate new revenues through additional fees and tuition hikes during such a difficult time," Delph said.
Boards of trustees at each university are allowed to vote on their own tuition rates, but may have to be justified to the State Budget Committee if the levels are thought to be unreasonable, Delph said.
"To me and others in the legislature, any increase is unreasonable at this time. Our institutions of higher learning need to tighten their belts just like Hoosier families."
To view the Consumer Price Index Statistics please visit http://data.bls.gov/PDQ/outside.jsp?survey=cu
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