Lawmaker: Scrap tuition hike or delay construction projects

New building projects proposed by IU could be at a standstill as state lawmakers have questioned tuition increases passed last month.

IU spokesman Larry MacIntyre said Sen. Luke Kenley, who as chairman of the State Budget Committee approves all building plans, is not going to pass IU’s current construction plans until in-state tuition is decreased.

In July, the board of trustees approved a 4.6 percent in-state tuition increase for the 2009-10 school year and 4.8 percent for the following year.

Kenley has removed consideration of about $53 million in projects from the agenda for Friday’s State Budget Committee meeting. The move would delay the start of construction at both IU and Purdue University, which raised tuition 5 percent for this school year.

“We want IU and Purdue to be outstanding universities, but they need to be realistic,” Kenley told The Associated Press. “I don’t think we need to see increases like this in the middle of a recession.”

IU President Michael McRobbie is currently engaged in discussion with Sen. Kenley’s office and other state officials, MacIntyre said.

IU awaits the approval of six building plans, including three on the Bloomington campus.

MacIntyre said IU has allotted $3 million to turn part of the stadium into a student academic center for athletes.

Also up for approval Friday are plans to expand the Eigenmann parking lot and renovate IU’s outdoor track.

In all, IU has more than $27 million in construction projects awaiting approval by the committee.

If these renovations are not made, MacIntyre said students will have to meet in less than adequate accommodations, which could have a negative effect.

MacIntyre said none of the proposed projects are being funded with money from state taxes or student tuition. These building plans would usually be seen as routine and would have no problem passing, MacIntyre said.

Earlier this summer, the State Commission for Higher Education recommended that IU and Purdue not raise tuition more than 5 percent.

Teresa Lubbers, commissioner for higher education, said the recommendations were not binding.

“We are trying to be helpful and show how to cut costs at all levels,” Lubbers said.

Although tuition increased 4.6 percent for the upcoming school year, MacIntyre said McRobbie has greatly expanded funds for grants for in-state students, more than half of which are receiving some kind of grant to help with their tuition, he said.

“The impacts of a tuition increase are not being felt across the board,” MacIntyre said.

He said McRobbie is doing what he can to make IU affordable for in-state students.

Although grants are being given to in-state students, Bernie Hannon, chief financial officer for the CHE,  said many members of the General Assembly were not happy with the rate increase.

Hannon said 4.6 percent is a default percent that applies to most students.

In-state students who study business, music or nursing, he said, have an even greater increase in tuition rates.

This fall in-state undergraduate business students had a 5.4 percent increase, music students a 5.5 percent increase and nursing students a 4.7 percent increase, Hannon said.