U promises to freeze tuition for two years if Leg gives $42.6M

The University of Minnesota is looking to propose an undergraduate tuition freeze for the 2014 and 2015 fiscal year if the Minnesota Legislature will give $14.2 million in incremental state funding for the next biennium.

The two-year tuition relief funding would total $42.6 million over two fiscal years. The request was part of the Biennial Budget for the 2014 and 2015 Fiscal Years released Thursday.

The tuition relief would account for a 3.9 percent increase in the biennial budget over the current biennium.

President Eric Kaler will present the proposal to the University Board of Regents on Friday during their board meeting, University spokesperson Chuck Tombarge said.

The Board of Regents will then meet in October to approve the request, which will then be released to the Minnesota Legislature.

The request said the tuition relief would “forge a new tuition partnership between the U and the State.”