After hearing the budget request from the University of Wyoming, a State Senator says it is time that U-W look at raising tuition to a much higher level.
Senate Appropriations Chairman Eli Bebout says the cost of maintaining a high quality institution is substantial. Bebout says U-W had to go through some difficult budget cuts and so it may be time that the University take steps to raise some of its own revenue.
“I think it’s part of the mix in terms of how we fund colleges as we move forward and it’s not just the University here, it’s the community colleges as well. You look at the numbers in our region where we are and I know the constitution says as close to free as we can get, well when you compare us to others we’re very, very competitive….i.e. the cheapest.”
Bebout says the state is looking at declining future revenues, so he says the timing is right to begin looking at this.
University officials say that topic will be on the table during the next U-W Trustees meeting.