Official Calls Proposed U Of Illinois Tuition Increase 'Insulting'

Official Calls Proposed U Of Illinois Tuition Increase 'Insulting'

Protesters swarmed a meeting of the University of Illinois' board of trustees today as the officials met to discuss a 9.5 percent tuition increase.

The Chicago Sun-Times reports:


State Sen. Martin Sandoval (12th) called the tuition increase "unconscionable" and "insulting," noting that it's coming even as the board hires a new university president at a base salary of $620,000.

The tuition hike for incoming freshman at the school's three campuses follows mandatory furlough days for faculty and staff and mid-year spending cuts. The university is still awaiting $375 million its owed from the state of Illinois.

Walter Knorr, the university's chief financial officer said the tuition increase is needed to stabilize resources, retain and recruit top faculty and cover cost increases in areas like Medicare and worker compensation.

The tuition increase would hike the cost of school at the university's Urbana-Champaign campus to $11,363.

Many are displeased with Hogan's starting salary. His predecessor earned $450,000 per year. University officials have said that Hogan's salary is "comparable to what other Big Ten schools pay."

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