Downing suggests capping average tuition and required fees increase at 5 percent
Curator Don Downing is expressing his discontent with raising tuition and required fees more than an average of 5 percent and course fees more than an average 9 percent.
"I think that the people in Jefferson City are watching us very, very carefully," Downing said.
He said he fears that lawmakers who do not want to give more funding to higher education might use the high percent increases as evidence. Citing MU's business course fee suggested increase of 97 percent, he said raising the fees more than he suggested might end up coming to bite the System in the future.
He said he doesn't want to fully trust Gov. Jay Nixon's proposal to cut 7 percent of the System's state appropriations.
"We have no guarantee that the governor will cut 7 percent," Downing said. "That is just what he suggested."
Upon questioning by Curator Judith Haggard, Downing said he has spoken to people in Jefferson City who said any raise higher than 5 percent could have other implications.