Tuition must be reasonable

The University of Minnesota should take a lesson in tuition management from its cousin, the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities System.
Tuition and fees at the U would jump 9.5 percent under a threat by university officials. They say that if Gov. Tim Pawlenty’s budget proposal becomes reality, tuition and fees will increase from the 7.5 percent originally planned to 9.5 percent. Pawlenty’s proposal calls for a cut of $27.3 million to the school’s budget.
We’re disappointed that the U would even propose the 7 percent increase, let alone add another 2 percent along with a threat.
Last year, the U got a 17 percent increase in funding from the state and yet tuition increased by 7 percent.
In the same period, the MnSCU system received a 13 percent state funding increase, yet kept tuition increases at 3 percent for four-year schools and 2 percent for two-year schools.
Richard Pfutzenreuter, a university vice present and chief financial officer said the tuition increases would allow U to “make investments” and “keep the university's momentum moving forward.”
He pointed at Pawlenty’s plan to cut 27.3 million from the U budget, saying, if that happens, something’s gotta give and that’s going to be tuition.
Reasonable tuition increases are understandable. The cost of everything, even education, rises each year. But the level of increases proposed by the U — especially in light of the fact that last year’s allotment, which was much higher than the rate of inflation.
Minnesota schools should move forward and make positive investments. But at the same time, a diploma from the University of Minnesota must remain attainable to most of the state’s kids. That won’t be the case if tuition and fees continue to rise at the rate proposed for the 2008-09 school year and enacted last year.