[Vision2020] tuition for the U of I

[ringoshirl]

Visionaries:

Here are the arguments provided for the Secretary of State's office for the constitutional amendment dealing with tuition.

I support this.  Although the legislature should support higher education better, the record of doing so is not impressive.  All other schools were give permission to charge tuition a couple of years ago, but it requires a Constitutional amendment for the U of I.  

S.J.R. 101

"Shall Section 10, Article IX, of the Constitution of the State of Idaho be amended to permit the Board

of Regents of the University of Idaho to impose rates of tuition and fees on all students enrolled in the

University of Idaho as authorized by law?"

Proposed Amendment to the Constitution of the State of Idaho: Section 10, Article IX

Legislative Council's Statement of Meaning, Purpose and Result to be Accomplished of Proposed

Amendment:

This proposed amendment will clarify that the Board of Regents of the University of Idaho may

charge students tuition, as authorized by law. Currently, the University of Idaho charges student fees

to undergraduate students, but not tuition. Student fees cannot be used to pay for classroom instruction.

All of the other state-supported colleges and universities in Idaho have the authority to charge

tuition, and this amendment specifies that the University of Idaho will have the same authority.

Statements FOR the Proposed Amendment

1. Currently the University of Idaho can charge student fees, but those fees cannot be used to help

pay for the cost of classroom instruction. This amendment will allow the University of Idaho to

charge tuition, which can be used to pay for classroom instruction, a practice that is allowed at

all other state-supported Idaho colleges and universities.

2. This amendment will not establish any rates of tuition or fees. The authority for determining

rates of tuition and fees will continue to rest with the State Board of Education, sitting as the

Board of Regents of the University of Idaho.

3. This amendment allows all Idaho's higher education state-supported institutions the uniform

authority to charge tuition.

Statements AGAINST the Proposed Amendment

1. The University of Idaho is Idaho's land-grant university and predates statehood. The framers of

the Constitution envisioned a free education for University of Idaho undergraduate students, and

that historic precedent should not be changed.

2. Rather than amending the Constitution, the state could provide the additional funding to cover

the costs of classroom instruction at the University of Idaho.

3. Changes to the Constitution should be made only for major issues of interest to the state or in the

event of a constitutional crisis.

Shirley Ringo
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