DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) - Iowa Board of Regents President Bruce Rastetter said he would like to see tuition at state universities rise no faster than Iowans’ income in the future.
Rastetter made the remarks Friday during and after his appearance on Iowa Public Television’s “Iowa Press,” the Des Moines Register reported (https://dmreg.co/2jAYtSa ). A Register reporter was among those who questioned Rastetter for the segment.
Any tuition increase higher than the rise in average state income would dramatically affect Iowa families’ ability to access the public universities, he said.
Rastetter emphasized that his remarks reflect his personal position, not a board initiative. The board, which oversees state universities, had already agreed to seek a 2 percent tuition increase next fall if the state’s appropriation also goes up 2 percent. Regents took that action before lawmakers decided to cut $18 million from the three state universities’ budgets this year, he added.
“Fortunately, the universities have been involved in efficiency studies,” Rastetter said. “From what I understand, those cuts are being made to this year’s budget, not next year, and there will still be a total revenue increase if we’re successful with the 2 percent for tuition and appropriations to all three universities.”
Iowa’s median household income rose 1.79 percent from 2014 to 2015, the most recent data available, the Register reported.
Rastetter’s term on the board ends in April. He has not decided whether he wants to seek reappointment, he said.
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Information from: The Des Moines Register, https://www.desmoinesregister.com
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