Students returning this fall will face a 9 percent tuition increase, according to a tuition policy approved by the Board of Regents on April 24.

The board’s proposal will go to the Council on Postsecondary Education for approval.

On April 24 regents finalized the $2.5 million cut in the 2007-08 budget.

Regents didn’t approve the 2008-09 budget or reductions, which include the elimination of the men’s soccer program.

There wasn’t enough time between the approval of a state budget and the board meeting for administrators to come up with a recommendation, President Gary Ransdell said.

Regents will decide on a budget and reductions for next fiscal year at a called meeting in June.

Ransdell said that after hearing all the reports at the meeting, he feels great about the progress Western is making.

“Yes it’s a tough budget environment, but I think we have enough dedication across campus to allow progress to continue,” he said.

Regents debate tuition

Not every regent voted to approve the tuition increase.

Louisville Regent Larry Zielke asked board members not to approve the increase yet but instead to push the General Assembly to find more money for education.

The General Assembly approved a 3 percent cut to postsecondary education in the state budget on April 2. That was in addition to a 3 percent cut ordered by Gov. Steve Beshear on Dec. 21, 2007.

Zielke said approving an increase would be letting legislators off easy.

He made a motion to only approve a 6 percent increase and ask the General Assembly for more money should they go into special session.

Student Government Association President Jeanne Johnson seconded the motion, but it died with only two votes.

Ransdell said Zielke’s motion wasn’t practical because Western can’t control whether a special session is called or what the topic of the session would be.

Faculty Regent Patricia Minter said she would vote for the 9 percent increase because she sees it as a “necessary evil.”

With tears in her eyes, Glasgow Regent Ladonna Rogers said she understands what students go through when they have to struggle to pay for college.

“I think Frankfort has their priorities horribly wrong,” she said.

Former players protest soccer cut

About eight soccer players attended the meeting, and former player Doug Gorman addressed the regents on their behalf.

The soccer team was cut Feb. 1 due to the budget cuts.

Gorman proposed a plan to allow the soccer team to stay, which included eliminating just the players’ scholarships and using alumni support to fund men’s soccer.

He said he’s already had alumni promise more than $180,000.

He said the men’s soccer program brings prestige to Western, naming the team’s high grade point average in his argument.

The board had a response to Gorman’s presentation already prepared. It said that Ransdell and Athletics Director Wood Selig acted appropriately in light of state budget cuts.

Ransdell said Gorman’s proposal wouldn’t work because a sport with no school support wouldn’t be able to recruit and be competitive, making it the “step-child” of the athletic program.

Johnson: Spend less on Honors College

Johnson said she has looked at the budget and agrees with the increase and how money should be spent, except for one area- the Honors College.

The Honors College would be given $370,000, according to Ransdell’s recommendation for budget allocations.

Johnson said the Honors College only benefits 900 students, and the other students at Western shouldn’t have to pay for it.

Ransdell said the Honors College is part of the strategic plan and draws the best students in Kentucky to Western.

The Honors College needs the money to continue to operate, he said.

CPE must approve tuition increase

Western, the other seven public universities and the community college system had to present a tuition policy proposal to CPE by April 25.

CPE has scheduled hearings with the institutions on Wednesday and Thursday in Frankfort. Ransdell said he will attend the hearing to represent Western.

CPE staff makes a recommendation to the council members, said Sue Patrick, CPE director of communications. The council will review the information presented and then approve a tuition rate.

The proposal had to include several items, such as a tuition rate, how tuition money would be spent and how much money would go to financial aid.

The tuition approval process is different this year because of the difficult budget environment, Patrick said. The hearing process will allow universities to have more flexibility.

CPE President Brad Cowgill has been reported as saying council members generally agree that tuition increases should be between 3 and 7 percent, but some exceptions could be made based on information presented to the council at the hearing.

Reach Michelle Day at news@chherald.com.