5 pct. tuition bump goes to MnSCU trustees today

Tuition would go up for students in the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system under a budget that goes before the board of trustees Wednesday.

The proposed 2012 budget includes a 5 percent tuition increase for students at MnSCU's seven state universities, or about $300 dollars more per student per year. Students at community and technical colleges would see a 4 percent tuition jump, $166 dollars a year.

MnSCU Chancellor James McCormick said the system needs to move forward with its budget now, even though there's no agreement on the state's budget at the Capitol.

"We're making certain assumptions and if we're wrong, we'll try adjusting them for the second semester, but we've got to operate," McCormick said.

McCormick added the system needs to sort out its budget now, even without an agreement on spending at the State Capitol.

"We've got to move on with this even if you have to change it later because we've got all those financial aid things to manage, students have to know what the tuition is otherwise you can't do all those financial aids things we have to do over the summer," McCormick said.

MnSCU officials are assuming they'll get $65 million less in state funding next year. Over the past year, MnSCU colleges across the state have been preparing for deep cuts to their budgets by reducing staff and cutting academic programs.