Georgia College Students Face Fee Hike

Georgia college students are facing another fee increase. The Georgia Board of Regents is preparing to vote on a plan to raise a mandatory student fee by as much as $100.

The state university system said Monday that it is trying to be fair as colleges face continuing budget cutbacks.

The increase would begin in January at the start of the next semester.

Georgia college students were given a special mandatory student fee this past January. The state says it's designed to be a temporary measure as the university system grapples with the economic downturn.

For now, with more budget cuts expected, the mandatory fee is expected to go up an additional $100 at the big research universities and other large schools. Other four-year colleges will increase by $75 dollars amd two-year colleges will see an increase of $50.

University system spokesman John Millsaps described the fee increase as a last resort.

Student government associations like the one at Georgia State University were alerted to the likelihood that fees will rise.

The state Board of Regents will vote on the increase Thursday. The university system is facing budget cutbacks as enrollment explodes. Due to a lag in the state funding formula, the system has 30,000 additional students with no additional funding except for the students' tuition.