Utah’s public colleges are requesting some of the lowest tuition increases this year than they have in the past decade — an adjustment that comes after state auditors last fall scrutinized the largely unregulated process where high hikes were often approved without question.
That scathing report spurred the Utah Board of Regents to create a new system requiring each university to present an individualized request for a tuition change at a public hearing. The first attempt Thursday lasted more than six hours and included one college that asked for no increase.
“I think it’s a real improvement in the process,” said Harris Simmons, board chairman.