Some UF students could see tuition increase by almost 16 percent beginning in the fall, and most of that increase wouldn't be covered by Bright Futures.
The bulk of the increase stems from a new law allowing all 11 state universities to raise tuition by up to 15 percent until they reach the national average.
The state approved an 8 percent tuition hike for all state universities next year, and UF has asked its Board of Trustees, the university's highest governing body, to approve an increase of another 7 percent in order to reach the 15 percent limit. They will vote on the proposal June 12.
The 7 percent increase would apply only to students who enrolled in the fall of 2007 or later, which means in-state undergraduates who fall in this category would pay , 145.76 per credit hour, or about , 20 more than before.
The remaining portions of the increase come from a collection of fee increases as well as a new technology fee.
Student Body President Jordan Johnson said he's in favor of the tuition increase because it will help UF without placing an undue burden on students.
"This is going to be our way of pushing through these tough times," Johnson said.
Johnson said he thinks it's about time UF was allowed to increase its tuition to the national average, which was , 6,585 at public universities this year, according to the College Board. At UF, in-state undergraduates taking 30 credits pay , 3,777 a year now and would pay about , 4,373 next year if the changes pass.
"It's amazing we've come this far with where our tuition is at," Johnson said.
He said he's also in favor of the new technology fee, which could include expanding free printing beyond the third floor of the Reitz Union and creating a central database where students can store their information, allowing students to access their personal documents from any computer on campus.
Johnson said a new committee will be created in Summer B to determine exactly how the money, , 4.42 per credit hour for undergraduates, will be spent.
"I'm pumped," he said at the Board of Trustees committee meeting Wednesday.
Trustees were also briefed on the composition of UF's incoming freshman class. For the first time ever, 60 percent of the admitted applicants are female. Women at UF also tend to have higher graduation rates and graduate sooner than men, said UF Provost Joe Glover.
Trustees were told that UF has accepted about 2,600 transfer students for next year, which is about 600 more than last year, despite UF reducing the number of transfer students it accepted this year. UF is also in the process of cutting enrollment by 4,000 over a four-year period.
