Leaders of the 14 state-owned universities today approved budgetary plans for 2010-11 that include a requested 3.8 percent increase in state aid and a possible 4 percent tuition increase for the system's 117,000 students, effective fall 2010.

The State System of Higher Education's board of governors, meeting via conference call, also finalized the current 2009-10 spending plan for those universities, which include California, Clarion, Edinboro, Indiana and Slippery Rock in Western Pennsylvania.

The system's 2009-10 budget had been held up in Harrisburg until last month's state budget agreement between the Legislature and Gov. Ed Rendell.

The additional $17.8 million in aid that the State System is seeking, if approved by the governor and Legislature, would bring the State System's total appropriation for 2010-11 to $483 million, spokesman Kenn Marshall said. The preliminary system budget for 2010-11 includes a 4 percent or $222 increase in yearly tuition, which would bring the base in-state rate to $5,776, Mr. Marshall said.

He said much can change about that figure in the coming months.

"This is the first step in the process," he said. "We have to submit an appropriation request to the governor's office."

He said the 4 percent figure reflects anticipated cost pressures that include higher utility and health care rates, and contractual agreements with the system's faculty, clerical and other unions calling for pay raises of 4 percent plus incremental increases based on years of service.

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