The Board of Regents approved tuition increases at 17 schools in the Connecticut State Colleges and Universities system.
This vote comes the day after the finance and infrastructure committee met and approved the hikes.
The Board of Regents listened to concerns from students, staff members and members of the public.
In a letter to students, Mark Ojakian, president of CSCU, said he recommended tuition increases at all the institutions for next year, including a 5 percent increase to tuition for universities. This would boost the current tuition of $9,609 by $480 to $10,089.
He recommended a 3.5 percent increase for community colleges, which would increase the tuition by $141, from $4,032 to $4,173. He also recommended a 4 percent increase at Charter Oak State College, from $8,666 to $9,013.
"I am fully aware that this is not the news you wanted to receive. Nor is it the news I wanted to be delivering. We spent a lot of time reviewing our budget options for next year. I believe this increase is fair given our current environment, and keeps our schools affordable so you are not burdened with crippling debt when you graduate," he said in a statement.
Ojakian said he expects $26 million in cuts during the next fiscal year and the proposed increase does not close the deficit, but it would allow the schools to "remain accessible and not burden students with crippling debt upon graduation.”
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The tuition hike will affect more than 88,000 students.
The following colleges and universities are part of the system:
- Asnuntuck Community College in Enfield
- Capital Community College in Hartford
- Central Connecticut State University in New Britain
- Charter Oak State College in New Britain
- Eastern Connecticut State University in Willimantic
- Gateway Community College in New Haven
- Housatonic Community College in Bridgeport
- Manchester Community College in Manchester
- Middlesex Community College in Middletown
- Naugatuck Valley Community College in Waterbury
- Northwestern CT Community College in Winsted
- Norwalk Community College in Norwalk
- Quinebaug Valley Community College in Danielson
- Southern Connecticut State University in New Haven
- Three Rivers Community College in Norwich
- Tunxis Community College in Farmington
- Western Connecticut State University in Danbury
Students are giving this mixed reviews and said they understand that the state budget is a growiing problem, but they feel like they are sacrificing a lot.
"It's distasteful to have to pay more and get less. We don't even have any athletics left, our catalogs are getting smaller, students are concerned -- will my classes be available so I can graduate on time," Gordon Plouffe, a student at Manchester Community College, said,
Ojakian also announced a temporary hiring freeze across all 17 campuses and the system office for at least the rest of this fiscal year.
The special meeting for the Board of Regents began at 10 a.m. in the Community Commons Room at Manchester Community College. The meeting will be on the second floor of Great Path Academy.
Approval of tuition and fees for fiscal year 2017 is just one of the items they are planned to discuss.
