The Cornell University Board of Trustees, at its regular meeting March 15, approved a tuition increase of $1,180 for undergraduate resident students in the New York state contract colleges for the academic year 2002-03.

"Cornell remains committed to keeping tuition increases as low as possible, as well as to a policy of need-blind admission -- that is, to admitting students without regard to their financial resources," said President Hunter Rawlings. "For 2002-03, the cost of meeting our institutional priorities will cause expenditures to grow faster than the rate of inflation. The situation is particularly acute because various revenue sources, including state funding and endowment income, in particular, are expected to remain flat as a result of general economic conditions and the aftermath of Sept. 11."

Rawlings said the tuition increases will offset only about half of the $20 million in increased costs estimated for the contract colleges in 2002-03. He said the remainder is expected to be met through workforce management, use of reserves, and selective program changes.

At the same time, Rawlings said, appropriate adjustments are being made in Cornell's institutional student financial aid allocations to adjust for the rate increases adopted by the trustees.

Provost Biddy Martin noted: "These tuition increases are driven by the necessary investment in faculty excellence and in student services, among other cost pressures. To remain competitive, Cornell must attract and retain the best faculty and staff, and to do that, we need to provide competitive compensation, in both pay and benefits. Our multiyear plan to improve both faculty and staff compensation is off to a good start, but we must continue to make gains despite new economic pressures. This commitment is in the best interest of the university and it must be honored in the years ahead."

The increase of $1,180 is less than the $1,300 increase approved by the trustees in January for the endowed colleges.

The new tuition rates are:

• Undergraduate (resident) , $13,150, up 9.9 percent.
• Undergraduate (nonresident) , $23,500, up 5.9 percent.
• Graduate (non-veterinary) , $15,200, up 9.3 percent.
• DVM (resident) , $18,200, up 10 percent.
• DVM (nonresident), $24,500, up 10.2 percent.
• Graduate (veterinary), $15,600, up 10.3 percent.

In January the board approved a tuition increase of 5 percent for undergraduate and graduate students in the endowed colleges, which set tuition at $27,270 for the 2002-03 academic year.