U Of L Committee Approves Tuition Increase, Salary Freeze

The University of Louisville's Board of Trustees Finance Committee is recommending a five percent tuition increase for the next academic year.The measures will go before the full board next month. The increase is the highest the Council on Postsecondary Education allows this year. Students protested a nine percent tuition increase last year. University President James Ramsey says the school has tried to be more open with students about the need for another hike."We would prefer to not have had to increase 5%, but I think by and large our students have accepted it and realize they're getting a real value and quality education at the University of Louisville," he says.The cost of housing will also increase, but there will be no faculty raises. Ramsey says faculty members understand the school's need to cut the budget, but he's concerned about what freezing salaries will mean for the university."It creates a lot of problems for us. A lot of morale problems," he says. "Sometimes we find faculty and staff are being recruited by other organizations. But we're looking at other non-monetary things we can do for faculty and staff."The committee also approved cutting mandatory meal plans by $75 dollars.