Eastern Michigan University students can expect to pay a bit more for classes this fall after the Board of Regents approved a 3.65 percent increase in tuition and fees during their packed general meeting today in Welch Hall. For undergraduate students, the increase equates to an additional $10.20 per credit hour and $306 per year.

Students will also be paying for the newly introduced laboratory and studio fees. The lab and studio fees will flow directly back into the academic departments to fund instructional supplies and equipment, according to the university.

“We’ve worked hard to minimize this increase,” EMU Chief Financial Officer John Lumm said. “The average increase for Eastern would be 2.5 percent over the three year period compared to other universities that have announced tuition today.”

The board also approved a $281.4 million budget which will provide for a $3.3 million or a 10.8 percent year-to-year increase in university sponsored financial aid. This represents a $12.3 million — 57 percent — increase over the last four years.

Lumm said the budget was developed with a “laser focus on students.”

Chair of the Board Roy Wilbanks said when factoring the budget, the university conducted business in an open and honest manner.

“We think we have put a pretty transparent process in place,” Wilbanks said. “Each regent on this board, when they agreed to the appointment, signed an oath of office… That oath of office really spells out the duty of the regents… We not only are authorized, but it’s our responsibility to represent all of our constituents. We have done a very diligent task. Not that everyone agrees with that.”

Regent Floyd Clack said he thinks certain individuals at the university are upset about the modest increase.

“At Eastern, we often play the blame game and I can tell you this, the Board of Regents made this decision and I suspect all of you that work at Eastern would have preferred a higher increase in tuition, but if you’re going to be upset and blame somebody, look at the board… just be angry with us,” he said.

During the public forum portion of the meeting, Student Body President Jelani McGadney said he was pleased with the modest increase.

“…At the end of the day, for us, it’s a courageous step because students cannot handle a tuition increase [like those] that’s been discussed at other universities,” McGadney said.

Regent Thomas Sidlik said he believes EMU did the right thing by implementing a modest increase.

“It would have been very easy to have a knee jerk reaction and have a 7 percent increase,” he said. “The board committed themselves to not balance the budget on the back of students.”

Regent James Stapleton said putting together the budget is one of toughest things he’s had to do.

“I can tell you that I’ve never been involved in a process as important as this and as difficult as this,” Stapleton said. “Looking out for students, I think that’s what this budget does.”

The board met frequently to discuss and analyze the budget, Regent Beth Fitzsimmons said.

“We have met, most of us, every single week for the past two months,” she said. “I think for someone who has been on the board for such a short time, I know a lot about the university. This has been a very rigorous and very difficult process… It has taken a lot of work.”

EMU President Susan Martin became emotional when discussing the 42 employees that will be laid off.

“This was challenging work for our team as we will layoff 42 employees while eliminating a total of 76 positions,” she said. “This is a painful moment for Eastern.”

Martin also took the time to announce the new interim provost for the university, Physics and Astronomy Department Head Jim Carroll. Carroll will serve July 1, 2011 through Aug. 31, 2012.