The Cornell Board of Trustees, at its meeting in New York City Saturday, Jan. 24, approved a 1998-99 budget that calls for a 4.3 percent tuition increase for the endowed colleges.

The increase is lower than last year's 4.5 percent increase and the lowest since 1965-66, when there was no increase, said Henrik N. Dullea, vice president for university relations.

The 4.3 percent increase sets tuition at Cornell's endowed colleges at $22,780 for the 1998-99 academic year. Currently, endowed tuition is $21,840.

Professional school tuitions and other fees for 1998-99 approved by the trustees are:

• Johnson Graduate School of Management, a 3.6 percent tuition increase to $24,300.
• Cornell Law School, a 4.3 percent increase to $24,100.
• Graduate School (endowed), a 4.3 percent increase to $22,780.
• Undergraduate student activity fees, as recommended by the Student Assembly, were increased from $74 to $94.
• Graduate and professional student activity fees, as recommended by the Student Assembly, were increased from $36 to $48.
• Housing rates were increased by 4 percent to an average of $4,534.
• The full-plan dining contract was increased by 6 percent to $3,021.

Statutory college tuition rates will not be considered by the board until state budget proposals have been reviewed.