By Alabama Public Radio
Tuscaloosa, AL – University of Alabama students could face a 12 percent tuition increase. A trustee committee says the money is needed to provide faculty and staff pay raises. Undergraduate and graduate students at the University's campuses in Birmingham and Huntsville will pay nine to 10 percent more for tuition...while those in Tuscaloosa would face the biggest jump.
But the University System's Board of Trustees expressed concerns Thursday about the request to raise tuition. System spokesperson Kellee Reinhart says trustees are worried about maintaining the affordability of higher education. Reinhart says trustees asked for assurances from the three campus presidents that the proposed tuition increases are the bare minimum necessary to meet the new budgets. The board of trustees is scheduled to meet Friday morning to give final consideration to the proposals.