March 6, 2024

Dear UAF students, 

Last week, you received a message from ASUAF regarding a tuition protest. Since then, many of you have reached out with your concerns about a potential tuition increase mentioned in the ASUAF message, indicating some confusion about tuition next academic year. 

The first thing you need to know is that tuition will not be increasing in the fall of 2024. The university works one year ahead on setting tuition rates. That means tuition levels for the 2024-2025 school year have already been approved by the UA Board of Regents. Tuition will remain unchanged next year. 

I want you to know that I hear your concerns and am still listening. Your decision to pursue higher education is a serious financial investment for you. UAF is committed to providing affordable education to all. If you are struggling financially, UAF also has shorter-term resources to support you. If you need help this semester, the Office of Rights, Compliance and Accountability has emergency scholarships available. For the fall semester, make sure you work with our Office of Financial Aid to access all of the funding that is available to you, including filling out your FAFSA. 

Looking ahead, UAF has a clear process for tuition and fee decisions. That process for the 2025-2026 academic year will begin shortly. Any tuition and fee proposals for fall 2025 will not be considered by the Board of Regents until September 2024 and then again in November 2024.

Please review the timeline below. If you are interested, I encourage you to provide input in this process. You can contact ASUAF to learn more about who your student representative is on relevant committees and how you can best support them. As always, you can also reach out to me with any questions. 

February - July 2024
Tuition discussions on the rate for the fall 2025 semester begin with the following groups, all of which have student representatives:

• Tuition and Fee Committee
• Planning and Budget Committee
• Chancellor’s cabinet

The tuition-rate-setting strategy is also guided by expertise UAF receives from national enrollment consultants, who consider several factors such as program demand, market conditions, financial aid and affordability.

May 2024
The Tuition and Fee Committee makes a recommendation to the chancellor regarding any tuition and fee rate changes for fall 2025. 

August 2024 
If UAF is proposing a tuition rate change, that proposal is presented to the UA president for consideration. The proposals are made in coordination with UAA and UAS. 

September 2024
The UA president presents any tuition rate changes for each university to the Board of Regents for discussion. The board accepts public testimony in advance of each of its meetings.

September-October 2024 
The chancellor hosts an annual budget and tuition forum to solicit additional student, faculty and staff feedback on proposed tuition changes. 

November 2024 
The UA president and Board of Regents discuss and vote on tuition rates for the academic year beginning in fall 2025. 

Spring 2025
Adopted rates are published in the catalog specific to the following academic year.  

If you have any questions or want to know more about how to get involved, please contact me at obguthrie@alaska.edu. 

— Owen Guthrie, vice chancellor for student affairs and enrollment management