ADELPHI - The University System of Maryland's Board of Regents gave final approval yesterday to tuition increases of up to 22 percent, meaning that thousands of the state's students will face bills more than $1,000 higher than last year's.
The increases, among the largest in the country, represent a sharp departure from the state's restrained approach to college costs over the past five years, when increases averaged around 4 percent a year.
"The whole deal that they'd limit tuition increases is thrown out the window," said Timothy Daly, president of the University of Maryland, College Park student government.
Regents lamented the break in tradition yesterday but said they had no alternative in the face of deep budget cuts that amount to about 14 percent of the system's state funding.
"I believe [we] have chosen an appropriate and justified response," said regent David H. Nevins. "This increase allows our institutions to continue their march to higher education quality and eminence. Perhaps contrary to the beliefs of some, it is in the best interest of the state and students."
The 14-2 vote was not unexpected: The regents' finance committee had recommended the rates two weeks ago. But the final approval did not come without debate, as two regents argued unsuccessfully for lower increases, saying the board was bowing prematurely to pressure from Gov. Robert L. Ehrlich Jr.
The 11-campus system was initially planning to raise tuition to rates about 15 percent higher than last fall. This, officials said, was needed to respond to the more than $80 million in cuts the system suffered last year, which brought its state funding down to about $780 million.
The need for even bigger increases arose, officials say, when Ehrlich requested this spring that the state comptroller withhold from the system another $40 million this year, which would be returned if the economy brightens. The additional cut is part of the governor's attempt to reduce a looming $1 billion state budget deficit.
To deal with this new cut, system officials say, they need to tack another 4 percent to 6 percent onto the increases at each school - as well as lay off hundreds of employees systemwide.
This resulted in tuition increases up to 22 percent at the University of Maryland, College Park and Salisbury University, 21 percent at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County and about 18 percent at other schools. If one includes the cost of mandatory fees - more than $1,500 at some schools - the rate of annual increase in total costs is slightly lower, as the attached chart shows.
Regent James C. Rosapepe argued in vain that the board should not consider the $40 million Ehrlich is withholding in setting tuition, and instead limit increases to 15 percent. Since a slim chance remains that the $40 million will be returned to the system, Rosapepe said, the system should wait until Ehrlich gets approval for the cut from the Board of Public Works.
UMBC senior Philip Shockley, the new student regent, agreed. "What we are saying if we [compensate for the $40 million cut] is that we can live without it, and we can't," he said.
But all the other regents opposed this approach, saying it appeared highly likely that Ehrlich would keep the $40 million. Ehrlich was only "dealing with reality," said regent Robert L. Mitchell, one of several Ehrlich appointees.
Also, it would only be more difficult to find $40 million later in the year, regents said.
In an attempt at compromise, regents agreed they would consider giving students a tuition rebate for the additional increase if the money comes back to the system. They would even consider hiring back staff members who had been laid off as a result of the cut, Nevins said.
System Chancellor William E. Kirwan added that he would make it his priority to try to win back the $40 million. "I will convey my alarm over the long-term damage being done to system institutions," he said.
The rebate offer helped slightly placate students at the meeting. But they remained upset with Ehrlich and university officials for failing to find ways to avoid driving up tuition.
"We need to be looking at other avenues of solving this crisis," said Dan Burcell of Bel Air, a junior at College Park. "They decided to just pass the burden to students. They should have taken a more responsible approach." Burcell, a legislator in the student government, urged regents to look into reducing, among other things, the salaries of high-ranking administrators. "Is there someone else who can do these jobs just as well for less money?" he said.
Gillian Betzold, another College Park junior from Bel Air, rose to tell regents that they were missing opportunities to save money, such as making better use of campus buildings in summer and more aggressively seeking corporate support.
"You guys, utilize other sources!" she shouted.
