Boren wants tuition increases at OU

<br>NORMAN, Okla. (AP) _ President David Boren has written University of Oklahoma students that he wants tuition increases this fall of 6% for in-state students and 9% for out-of-state students. <br><br>The

Friday, April 23rd 2004, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

NORMAN, Okla. (AP) _ President David Boren has written University of Oklahoma students that he wants tuition increases this fall of 6% for in-state students and 9% for out-of-state students.

The increases would be about half of what Boren requested last year.

Also, Boren said regents will be asked to increase by 5 percent the salaries of faculty and staff, who have gone two years without a raise.

``It is becoming increasingly likely that the university will not be able to meet its financial obligations for next year without some upward adjustment in tuition and fees,'' Boren said.

He said he foresees only a smaller increase if the Legislature offers more money.

``Even today, state appropriations are covering only about 22 percent of the Norman campus operating budget and 11 percent of the Health Sciences Center,'' said Boren.

According to Boren, OU and Oklahoma State are at the bottom of the Big 12 Conference in tuition and fees.

Tom Guild, who represents a group called Higher Education Association for Reform, praised Boren's plan. Guild, a professor at the University of Central Oklahoma, was critical of last year's increases in college costs at OU and OSU.

``Boren is obviously a very influential person in Oklahoma higher education, and a lot of other presidents (move) in that direction,'' Guild said.

A cost comparison Boren included in his letter showed OU at the bottom of the Big 12 at $3,741 per academic year. OSU was $7 higher. Baylor University was highest at $18,500 followed by the University of Missouri at $6,558.

For nonresidents, OSU is the cheapest in the Big 12 at $10,006, followed by OU at $10,254. Highest is the University of Colorado at $20,336.