UA president proposes 2 percent increase

ANCHORAGE — University of Alaska President Pat Gamble has proposed a 2 percent tuition increase for the fall 2013-spring 2014 academic year, the smallest increase in more than a decade, the university says.

The UA Board of Regents, which oversees all 16 University of Alaska campuses, will approve or deny the tuition proposal.

Tuition makes up about 12 percent of the university’s total budget, Gamble said, and other belt-tightening will be required.

“There is no free lunch,” Gamble noted. “When we squeeze this balloon, it expands the dollar shortfall to be made up elsewhere in our system.”

The tuition increase will range from $3 to $8 per credit hour depending on the type of credit enrolled in (lower division, upper division, graduate). An undergraduate, full-time student enrolled in 15 credits, can expect a $45-$60 increase per semester starting in fall 2013.