(Las Vegas) – Today, the UNLV College Republicans are calling on the Nevada System of Higher Education (NSHE) Board of Regents to postpone enacting a second round of tuition hikes aimed at replacing lost revenues from budget cuts passed earlier this year. The board is currently planning to vote for an increase of 5%, 8%, or 13%, during their meeting on December 1-2, 2011, just a few months after students were hit with a 13% increase at the start of the fall 2011 semester.
“The focus should be on fixing the state’s funding formula, and increasing efficiency at Nevada colleges,” said Thomas McAllister, Senior Vice President of the UNLV College Republicans. “Until these steps are taken, the Board of Regents has an obligation to protect Nevada students from unnecessary and burdensome increases in tuition and fees, especially during these trying economic times.”
The state’s funding formula has long been the subject of debate in Nevada. In fact, early this year both NSHE Chancellor Dan Klaich and State Senate Majority Leader Steven Horsford called for state funding formula reform. The UNLV College Republicans believe tuition and fee hikes should not be considered until those reforms are implemented.
“It is the responsibility of education officials and state legislators in Nevada to do what’s right, and fix the state’s funding formula first,” continued McAllister. “Forcing students to pay for their refusal to act is simply unacceptable.”
