The ripple affect of the state's budget woes will hit New Mexico State University students this fall.
The NMSU regents, in a 4-1 vote Friday, approved a 7.9 percent increase for in-state undergraduate tuition, or $213 more per semester.
"That's the first time I've heard about it," said journalism sophomore Tara Melton, 19. "It's going to greatly hurt me because I'm on scholarships, but I still have to pay about $200 out of pocket. If they add that I'll have to cover it myself. I'll probably have to take out a loan."
The move came as a result of an $8.1 million drop in state funding for NMSU next academic year.
NMSU has cut millions over the last three years - it eliminated or left positions unfilled, and slashed spending on things like travel, supplies, and vehicles. Deep state cuts have also impacted research and Extension services, among many others.
Since 2008, NMSU has raised tuition 28 percent, mostly due to declining state revenues.
President Barbara Couture said no one on the board or in the administration wants to increase the cost to attend NMSU or cut spending, especially when enrollment and the need for more support for programs are only growing.
"The cuts left us with few good choices," Couture said.
Spending cuts not enough
Tuition will go up even more for non-residents. The regents approved a 9.5 percent increase for non-resident tuition, or $794 a semester.
That kind of jump is significant for students like Vanessa Fai-Yengo, an 18-year old chemical engineering junior from Cameroon, who pays for school by working, loans, and family support.
"I don't have any scholarships. I pay for everything myself, and I'm a chemical engineering major and the books are very expensive. It's going to make a big difference for me," Fai-Yengo said. "It's going to affect everyone."
The tuition increase will generate $6.9 million, and combined with $40,000 in fee increases and various cuts made this year, will get NMSU within budget, according to NMSU administration and finance.
NMSU initiated $3.9 million in cuts over the past year, and has cut 68 administrative and 42 academic positions
Last year, 81 employees retired, saving the university $1.3 million by not refilling those positions, and the university projects to save $770,000 by cutting its vehicle fleet by 440 vehicles, Couture said.
Despite these savings, regents said the state cuts gave them no choice but to raise tuition.
Regent Isaac Pino said the board was under a time constraint to approve the tuition increase. He said NMSU has been able to avoid the layoffs and furloughs seen at many other universities, but perhaps only for so long.
"If this trend continues at the same pace, we may have to rethink the entire mission of this university over the next several years," Pino said.
Statewide pain
The Legislature approved a 4 percent cut in funding for higher education, but because of state funding formulas, NMSU took the biggest of any state institution, with a 4.9 percent cut.
All New Mexico colleges and universities are feeling the pinch.
The University of New Mexico approved an 7.9 percent increase in tuition and fees and millions in cuts.
Eastern New Mexico University, which raised tuition and fees 9.8 percent last year, will consider a proposed 6.5 percent increase for next year.
Highlands University offers one of the cheapest tuition rates in the West, but its regents passed a 9.6 percent tuition increase last week. And Western New Mexico University approved a 6 percent increase last month.
NMSU has sustained $35 million in state cuts since 2008. Couture warned future cuts will have a significant impact on the university's ability overall to deliver quality services to its students, as well as support existing faculty.
The cuts have already resulted in fewer classes and sessions available for students, which Couture said could affect students' ability to graduate on time.
'Lack of debate'
Some students say college already costs a lot, and most will adapt to another jump in the expense of getting a degree.
Seniors Leonard Thurman III and Travis Le-Doux said NMSU still offers a very good value compared to other area universities.
"I don't think it was communicated well (to students). Probably there should have been more debate. Seven percent seems pretty drastic. But I think most people want to be here and they're just going to pay it anyway. I don't think anybody's going to get up and leave," Thurman said.
Couture said over the last couple weeks she has met with department heads and student government leaders forewarning them of additional cuts and a likely increase in tuition.
But Regent Javier Gonzales, who cast the lone vote against the increases, said there should have been more public notice about tuition going up again.
The specific amount of the increase was not made public until just before the regents meeting Friday morning.
"I would hope we could table this action. This is a big decision that has impacts on the students and faculty members," Gonzales said. "I was hoping this tuition increase would go out earlier to the public, but it didn't."
Gonzales said the tuition increase "is being done on the backs of the people who can't afford it."
"If these tuition increases continue, I fear we will get to the point where we are the most expensive institution in the state and that goes against our land grant mission," he said.
Regent president Laura Conniff said she shared those concerns.
"We did not make these decisions lightly," said Conniff. "Whether we agree or disagree, I think we've done everything we can for the best interest of the university and we will continue to do so."
Christopher Schurtz can be reached at cschurtz@zianet.com.
2011-2012 tuition increase
•Undergraduate in-state 7.9 percent or $213 a semester
•Undergraduate non-resident 9.5 percent or $794 a semester
•Graduate in-state 8.1 percent or $235 a semester
•Graduate non-resident 9.6 percent or $816 a semester
•Housing rates increase 2.5 percent; no increase in meal plans
•Parking fees were increased by 17 cents per month for students and 33 cents per month for the majority of employees.
Do-a Ana Community College tuition increase
•In-state 8.8% or $60
•Non-resident 14.8% or $300
Alamogordo Community College
•In-state 10.1% or $84
•Non-resident 9.7% or $216
Four years of increases at NMSU
•2008-2009 6.9%
•2009-2010 5%
•2010-2011 8%
•2011-2012 7.9%
The NMSU regents, in a 4-1 vote Friday, approved a 7.9 percent increase for in-state undergraduate tuition, or $213 more per semester.
"That's the first time I've heard about it," said journalism sophomore Tara Melton, 19. "It's going to greatly hurt me because I'm on scholarships, but I still have to pay about $200 out of pocket. If they add that I'll have to cover it myself. I'll probably have to take out a loan."
The move came as a result of an $8.1 million drop in state funding for NMSU next academic year.
NMSU has cut millions over the last three years - it eliminated or left positions unfilled, and slashed spending on things like travel, supplies, and vehicles. Deep state cuts have also impacted research and Extension services, among many others.
Since 2008, NMSU has raised tuition 28 percent, mostly due to declining state revenues.
President Barbara Couture said no one on the board or in the administration wants to increase the cost to attend NMSU or cut spending, especially when enrollment and the need for more support for programs are only growing.
"The cuts left us with few good choices," Couture said.
Spending cuts not enough
Tuition will go up even more for non-residents. The regents approved a 9.5 percent increase for non-resident tuition, or $794 a semester.
That kind of jump is significant for students like Vanessa Fai-Yengo, an 18-year old chemical engineering junior from Cameroon, who pays for school by working, loans, and family support.
"I don't have any scholarships. I pay for everything myself, and I'm a chemical engineering major and the books are very expensive. It's going to make a big difference for me," Fai-Yengo said. "It's going to affect everyone."
The tuition increase will generate $6.9 million, and combined with $40,000 in fee increases and various cuts made this year, will get NMSU within budget, according to NMSU administration and finance.
NMSU initiated $3.9 million in cuts over the past year, and has cut 68 administrative and 42 academic positions
Last year, 81 employees retired, saving the university $1.3 million by not refilling those positions, and the university projects to save $770,000 by cutting its vehicle fleet by 440 vehicles, Couture said.
Despite these savings, regents said the state cuts gave them no choice but to raise tuition.
Regent Isaac Pino said the board was under a time constraint to approve the tuition increase. He said NMSU has been able to avoid the layoffs and furloughs seen at many other universities, but perhaps only for so long.
"If this trend continues at the same pace, we may have to rethink the entire mission of this university over the next several years," Pino said.
Statewide pain
The Legislature approved a 4 percent cut in funding for higher education, but because of state funding formulas, NMSU took the biggest of any state institution, with a 4.9 percent cut.
All New Mexico colleges and universities are feeling the pinch.
The University of New Mexico approved an 7.9 percent increase in tuition and fees and millions in cuts.
Eastern New Mexico University, which raised tuition and fees 9.8 percent last year, will consider a proposed 6.5 percent increase for next year.
Highlands University offers one of the cheapest tuition rates in the West, but its regents passed a 9.6 percent tuition increase last week. And Western New Mexico University approved a 6 percent increase last month.
NMSU has sustained $35 million in state cuts since 2008. Couture warned future cuts will have a significant impact on the university's ability overall to deliver quality services to its students, as well as support existing faculty.
The cuts have already resulted in fewer classes and sessions available for students, which Couture said could affect students' ability to graduate on time.
'Lack of debate'
Some students say college already costs a lot, and most will adapt to another jump in the expense of getting a degree.
Seniors Leonard Thurman III and Travis Le-Doux said NMSU still offers a very good value compared to other area universities.
"I don't think it was communicated well (to students). Probably there should have been more debate. Seven percent seems pretty drastic. But I think most people want to be here and they're just going to pay it anyway. I don't think anybody's going to get up and leave," Thurman said.
Couture said over the last couple weeks she has met with department heads and student government leaders forewarning them of additional cuts and a likely increase in tuition.
But Regent Javier Gonzales, who cast the lone vote against the increases, said there should have been more public notice about tuition going up again.
The specific amount of the increase was not made public until just before the regents meeting Friday morning.
"I would hope we could table this action. This is a big decision that has impacts on the students and faculty members," Gonzales said. "I was hoping this tuition increase would go out earlier to the public, but it didn't."
Gonzales said the tuition increase "is being done on the backs of the people who can't afford it."
"If these tuition increases continue, I fear we will get to the point where we are the most expensive institution in the state and that goes against our land grant mission," he said.
Regent president Laura Conniff said she shared those concerns.
"We did not make these decisions lightly," said Conniff. "Whether we agree or disagree, I think we've done everything we can for the best interest of the university and we will continue to do so."
Christopher Schurtz can be reached at cschurtz@zianet.com.
2011-2012 tuition increase
•Undergraduate in-state 7.9 percent or $213 a semester
•Undergraduate non-resident 9.5 percent or $794 a semester
•Graduate in-state 8.1 percent or $235 a semester
•Graduate non-resident 9.6 percent or $816 a semester
•Housing rates increase 2.5 percent; no increase in meal plans
•Parking fees were increased by 17 cents per month for students and 33 cents per month for the majority of employees.
Do-a Ana Community College tuition increase
•In-state 8.8% or $60
•Non-resident 14.8% or $300
Alamogordo Community College
•In-state 10.1% or $84
•Non-resident 9.7% or $216
Four years of increases at NMSU
•2008-2009 6.9%
•2009-2010 5%
•2010-2011 8%
•2011-2012 7.9%
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