ASMSU’s Academic Assembly passed a resolution Tuesday encouraging the state Legislature to give more money to the state’s 15 public universities to keep tuition increases reasonable.
Some assembly members will lobby for increased state appropriations at the Capitol beginning Feb. 7, after Gov. John Engler’s budget is released.
The undergraduate student government will lobby against a proposed constitutional amendment that would cap tuition increases at the rate of inflation or 5 percent, whichever is less.
“In my opinion, it’s essential to have someone in office that understands that state funding is essential toward preserving and increasing the quality of higher education while keeping tuition increases low,” Academic Assembly Chairperson Matt Clayson said.
Jeff Ziarko, ASMSU’s director of university, governmental and budgetary affairs, said students are at a disadvantage when the state holds universities accountable for all tuition hikes. Increased state appropriations would keep tuition down, but would still permit a high quality education, he said.
“Our administration has been responsible, and they are not raising tuition higher than is necessary to maintain the quality of education here,” Ziarko said. “We wanted to have our position on record because as the state starts its budget process, we want to make sure the state Legislature can give us as much money as they can this year - and to say that’s what they need to do in the future.
“The message they have to understand is that every dollar they can give to us is a dollar that students won’t have to pay in tuition.”
State Sen. John Schwarz, chairman of the Senate’s Higher Education Appropriations Subcommittee, said he agrees with the assembly’s resolution.
The Battle Creek Republican has said the state’s 15 public universities could have a 1, 3 or 5 percent decrease in state funding. Last year, a 1.5 percent funding increase from the state left MSU students with an 8.9 percent tuition increase.
“The solution is, in fact, a higher level state appropriation, not a continual amendment that ties the hands of the universities,” Schwarz said. “I’m always happy to see students, and I hope they lobby me.
“You will never know what effect it will have to pass a resolution and lobby, but it never hurts to be reminded.”
Although some students say they are worried about the cost of a tuition increase, others are more worried about the trade-off.
“I wouldn’t want the quality of the university to go down,” business freshman Kevin Marold said. “If people aren’t willing to pay the increase, they should be willing to go to a less prestigious school.”
Academic Assembly members will discuss tuition increases on WDBM (88.9-FM) at 6:30 p.m. today.
