U of M tuition hikes expected to be approved

The University of Minnesota board of regents is expected to approve a budget later this week that trims the school's budget and raises tuition for students.

The university faces a $152 million budget challenge next fiscal year.

A proposal to fix that hole from University of Minnesota president Robert Bruininks cuts more than $100 million dollars from the school's budget through employee layoffs, early retirements -- and by leaving some open positions unfilled. It also means a temporary pay cut and three unpaid furlough days for most employees.

The proposal raises nearly $50 million through tuition increases. Federal stimulus dollars will help hold the increase at 4.5 percent for in-state undergraduates.

The Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system recently approved a 4.5 percent tuition increase. And the state's private liberal arts colleges say they'll also raise tuition next year by an average of 4.5 percent.