U of M regents OK conditional tuition freeze

The University of Minnesota Board of Regents approved a legislative budget request Friday that includes a tuition freeze for students.

The Regents vote gives U of M president Eric Kaler the go-ahead to ask lawmakers for a $91.6 million increase in funding over the next two years.

If approved, Kaler's budget would freeze tuition for two years for in-state undergraduate students, increase funding for financial aid, and boost research intended to help the state's economy.

Kaler's request ties some of the increase in funding to benchmarks the U will attempt to meet, such as increasing the number of students who graduate in four years.

The U has seen declining state funding in recent years. If approved, Kaler's $1.2 billion budget request would put the U back at the level of funding it last saw in 2001.