KU will seek approval of the final year of its five-year tuition plan at this month's meeting of the Kansas Board of Regents. The first four years of the plan have yielded outstanding results, including millions of dollars for need-based tuition grants, new funding for high-priority academic program enhancements, increased classroom technology, scientific equipment and library resources and increased student retention.

About 20 percent of the tuition enhancement funds are used for need-based KU Tuition Grants, a feature Chancellor Robert Hemenway lauded for helping students of all financial backgrounds attend KU. In fiscal year 2006, $7.06 million was set aside for the grants at the Lawrence campus and $1.07 million was set aside at the KU Medical Center.

Highlights of the program in FY06:

• $2.4 million set aside for new faculty positions/programs
• $2 million earmarked for faculty salary increases
• $900,000 set aside for unclassified staff salary increases
• $1 million earmarked for libraries
• $1 million for other operating expenses to schools
• $800,000 was reserved for new staff positions and program support
• $750,000 was tabbed for both student hourly wages and new GTA/lecturer positions
• KU's tuition remains lower than the average among members of the prestigious American Association of Universities.