Western is one step closer to finding out how much in state money the university will get for the next two years.

The Council on Postsecondary Education approved a “modest” budget request for higher education in 2010-2012 during its meeting on Friday morning, according to a CPE press release.

The request, which includes state funding for Kentucky’s eight four-year public universities and the Kentucky Community and Technical College System, will now go to Gov. Steve Beshear for approval.

The request calls for a 4.6 percent total increase in funding for next year and a 2.7 percent increase the second year, according to the press release.

Ann Mead, vice president for Finance and Administration, said in an e-mail that, while the CPE’s recommendation will cover some of Western’s increased operating costs, it will not be enough to cover everything.

As a result, Western will likely have to raise tuition, she said.

The request acknowledges the tough state economic situation but also shows that campuses have real needs, said Sue Patrick, communications director for CPE.

Western’s budget recommendation calls for a 3.7 percent increase for the first year and a 3.1 percent increase for the second year, according to a summary provided by Mead.

Inevitable cost increases include faculty promotions and salary increases and rising health insurance costs, she said.

Higher education in Kentucky is receiving about $70 million in federal stimulus money from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 for the 2010-2011 school year.

But that money will run out by June 30, 2011, and CPE is calling for state legislators to replace those funds, according to the summary.

President Gary Ransdell previously called the looming end to stimulus money a “caution flag on the horizon.”

He previously said he doesn’t know what will happen when the money runs out, and Western plans to spend the next legislative session either playing offense or defense — offense to secure funding for new projects or defense to minimize budget cuts.

CPE also requested $50 million — if money becomes available — to use to increase retention and graduation rates, according to the press release.

Retention has become a problem for some Kentucky universities, Patrick said.

“We’re good at getting them in the door, but we’re not so good at getting them out with that baccalaureate degree,” she said.

A poor economy has led more students to pursue a college degree, and campuses must be able to accommodate those students without sacrificing academic quality, Patrick said.

Patrick said CPE has encouraged universities to try and save money internally.

“All of our institutions have stepped up … so that they can continue to serve more students in a down-turned economy,” she said.