University presidents say tuition heading up again

Another lean year of state funding will trigger more tuition increases at Illinois' public universities, officials predicted Friday. In testimony to state lawmakers, the presidents from four of the state's universities decried a plan to increase the state's share of higher-education funding by 1.5 percent in the budget year that begins July 1. &#8220We're going to be really challenged here,” said Illinois State University President Al Bowman. &#8220We're getting squeezed on money,” added University of Illinois President Joseph White. The predictions of tuition increases come as public universities in other states are beginning to reap the rewards of improving state economies. In Illinois, however, the Illinois Board of Higher Education has