The University of Arizona is proposing a new athletics fee to support athletics programs and facilities as part of its tuition proposal for the 2017-2018 school year.
The new fee would cost $100 for incoming undergraduate students, and $50 for incoming graduate students, who could opt out, according to the UA.
The fee, which would support athletics facilities and operations, would allow undergraduate students to attend all sports games for free except men's football and men's basketball, UA spokesman Chris Sigurdson said. Graduate students who choose to pay the fee can attend all sports games other than men's basketball.
The university is also proposing a 1 percent tuition increase for incoming students next school year, whether they're Arizona residents or not.
More than 90 percent of current undergraduates would not see any increase whatsoever, said Sigurdson. Existing undergraduate students who are enrolled in a tuition guarantee program have a frozen tuition rate for four years.
Tuition and fees for new in-state undergraduate students would rise $351 from $11,769 to $12,228 a year under the proposal. New non-resident undergraduate students would pay an additional $691, bringing the total cost to $35,658 a year.
For new graduate students entering in the fall, the increase is $365 if they are Arizona residents and $563 if they are not.
Other proposed fee increases for new students for the 2017-2018 school year include:
- A $125 increase in health and recreation fee, which brings the new amount to $425;
- A $55 increase in information technology and library fee for a new total of $535 and;
- A $70 increase in student services fee to $150.
Members of the public are invited to provide comment on March 28 from 5 to 7 p.m. at the UA's College of Education, Room 102, and in Sierra Vista at the academic technology building, Room B153.
Tuition proposals by the state's three public universities, including Arizona State and Northern Arizona universities, will be voted on at a Board of Regents meeting at the UA on April 6.
