Sources: Pat Bosco, 785-532-6237, bosco@k-state.edu; and Lydia Peele, lfp@k-state.edu
News release prepared by: Cheryl May, 785-532-6415, may@k-state.edu
Thursday, March 12, 2009
REGENTS PROPOSAL WOULD MEAN ZERO TUITION INCREASE AT K-STATE THIS FALL
MANHATTAN -- Today's recommendation by the Kansas Board of Regents to provide a one-year tuition freeze for in-state students at Kansas regents universities recognizes the challenges Kansas families are facing in these difficult economic times, said Pat Bosco, Kansas State University's vice president of student life.
"We are glad the regents recognize the plight of our students and their families," Bosco said. "While the university is struggling to fulfill our mission in light of 7 percent budget cuts, it is good news that the regents recognize that an increase in tuition at this time would be challenging for our families."
Bosco said if Gov. Sebelius' recommendation for a 7 percent budget cut passes, the regents will use stimulus money to fund a one-year state university tuition freeze for in-state students at Kansas regents schools beginning this fall.
Lydia Peele, K-State student body president and chair of the student advisory council at the Kansas Board of Regents, endorsed the regents action.
"I really feel this action will help students and their families -- both those students already here and those planning to attend K-State. It is very good news," Peele said. She is a senior in math education.
The board's plan would allocate $9.6 million in federal stimulus funds to the state's public higher education institutions -- seven public universities, 19 community colleges, and six technical colleges – for deferred building maintenance projects. In Fiscal Year 2010, assuming that higher education budget reductions do not exceed 7 percent and American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funding is available, the board's plan would allocate $40 million in federal stimulus funds to the state's public higher education institutions for deferred building maintenance projects and tuition cost mitigation, which would make the one-year state university tuition freeze for Kansas residents possible. For more information, see the regents news release at: http://tinyurl.com/d7x4n3
