University presidents say enrollment is outstripping funds

The Presidents of the three state universities say climbing enrollment is going to require more money to maintain the quality of education. The Presidents told the state Board of Regents yesterday they want to raise tuition at Iowa, Iowa State and U-N-I. University of Northern Iowa President Robert Koob says U-N-I has had four consecutive semesters of record enrollment and it’s clear that it will be difficult to maintain quality.University of Iowa President Mary Sue Coleman echoed Koob’s comments.Coleman says the number of students is starting to outpace the funds available to educate them.While university officials are crying foul over Republican state budget plans which they say make deep cuts, Republican legislative leaders say the three universities will get more state dollars next year. But, general operations are being cut by 15-million in order to provide support for new initiatives. House Republican Leader Christopher Rants of Sioux City says it’s not a cut just because the universities didn’t get as much money as they requested.House Speaker Brent Siegrist, a republican from Council Bluffs, says the G-O-P budget plan is reasonable. The leaders of the state universities are asking for hikes in room-and-board fees for students who live in the dorms in Ames, Cedar Falls and Iowa City. University of Northern Iowa director of residents Bob Hartman is asking for a six percent increase in dorm fees for next fall.University of Iowa officials want to raise dorm rates by five percent. Iowa State officials seek a six-point-three percent increase. The Board of Regents will makes its decision on dorm rates in April.