Gov. James Thompson’s statewide budget cut, which resulted in a $3.3 million reduction in funding for NIU, spawned a last ditch lobbying effort by the Board of Regents to keep tuition rates down.

“If we don’t get help (from the state), we’ll have to recommend a (tuition) increase,” Regents Chairman Carol Burns said. The Regents, however, did not make a formal recommendation for a tuition increase at last week’s meeting at NIU.

Burns said the effort should be an organized one, “not just a few letters or a few phone calls.” Such a lobbying effort is mandatory because of the board’s goal for affordable tuition rates, she said.

The Regents must choose between allowing qualified students to pay the current tuition rate for a damaged educational program, or “we saddle those same students and their parents with a greater share of the costs,” Burns said.

The Regents’ Finance Committee reviewed a report speculating the impact of Thompson’s $363 million statewide budget cut.

The report stated the need for “mid-year tuition increases of up to $100.” However, Regents Chancellor Roderick Groves, along with the presidents of the three Regency universities (NIU, Illinois State University and Sangamon State University), said the increase probably would need to be about $150 to offset the reduction.

NIU President John LaTourette said the gap between the amount of money NIU needs to maintain its current operating level and the amount it actually will be allocated can be closed with a tuition increase of about $166 per semester.

A $150 tuition increase should generate about $9 million for the entire Regency system, LaTourette said. The system suffered a $9 million loss because of the budget cut.

LaTourette indicated the need to lower enrollment by about 1,500 students. Although the question was raised about how this would affect offsetting the budget reduction with a tuition increase, it remained unanswered.

The report also stated the need for an admissions freeze, no salary increases and staff reductions. However, “No mention is made of the pain that’s going to be afflicted on students,” LaTourette said.

Groves said the report is based on data submitted by the universities that shows what a 5 percent reduction possibly could entail. He said, however, the report is just an approximation and nothing definite.

The budget was cut 4 percent across the board, but Eddie Williams, NIU vice president for finance and planning, said NIU actually suffered a 4.5 percent reduction.

At the Regents’ September meeting, which will be held at NIU, specific recommendations to offset the reduction’s impact will be made to the board, if some type of funding relief is not obtained through the lobbying effort.

A board resolution said the recommendations will include “increases in tuition and other appropriate enhancement measures.”