WEDNESDAY,JULY3,2002 THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN = 7 NEW FITNESS CENTER ON ITS WAY LAURIESISK/KANSAN Workers make progress on the construction of a new $17 million recreation center behind Watkins Memorial Health Center. The center is slated to open in 2003. Board of Regents approves 25.2 % tuition increase By Lauren Beatty Kansan staff writer The wait is over. Soon all University of Kansas students will know exactly how much their tuition will increase this fall. The Kansas Board of Regents members attended their last meeting of the fiscal year Thursday in Topeka. Ending on a somewhat sour note, the board approved a 25.2 percent tuition increase for resident undergraduate students. A 25 percent increase would mean a student taking 15 hours would pay $300 more in the fall. "Iknew to make our university competitive, tuition would have to go up," Kim Kardash, Overland Park senior, said. "But 25 percent is a lot. I was expecting about 10 percent. At least I'm a senior and I'm out of here soon." Non-resident undergraduate students will pay 9.3 percent more, resident graduates 18.6 more and non-resident graduates 8.6 more than last semester. The University's tuition increase is the largest in the state. Kansas State University's tuition will increase slightly less, at 25.1 percent. The increase will affect the fall 2002 tuition. Lynn Bretz, director of University Relations, said the tuition assessments students received at enrollment were only a preliminary tally. The assessments included a warning to students that the total amount due would go up.Bretz said final bills would be sent to students around July 13.Tuition is due Aug.8. Students who receive financial aid will also have to deal with the tuition increase. The Office of Student Financial Aid was refiguring all financial aid awards, said Bretz. "They are working through the weekend," she said. "Eligible students will receive a revised award letter that will go out July 3." Student body president Jonathan Ng attended the Regents meeting and said he and the other students knew not much could be done to stop the increase so late in the debate. The University will give a total of $2.2 million in tuition grants to approximately 3900 students initially. More awards will be given as applications are received, said Bretz. "We weren't expecting anything different," he said. "It's not a matter of what we could have done. Our next step is to focus on the future. Students need to know where their tuition money is going." Contact Beatty at Ibeatty@kansan.com. This story was edited by Matt Stumpff. Try the Iced Coco Cloud! Silky chocolate under an avalanche of frothy milk. 12th and Oread 841-3268 1814 w.23rd 843-6000 75ยข off Take 75 cents off of any of our 44 varieties of HOT submarine sandwiches The subman delivers from 11 a.m. until close everyday *in store or delivery not valid with other offers *coupon valid in June, July,and August *offer limit to one sub per person Don't monkey around with your deposit!!