MARQUETTE -- The Northern Michigan University Board of Trustees approved an increase in tuition on Thursday morning.
In their meeting, the board voted to increase tuition 3.5 percent, or $148 a semester.
Many in the boardroom voiced their reluctance for the increase, but with recent declines in state-funding, the university says it had no choice.
"There has been a decade of decline of cutback of funding," said Interim President David Haynes. "It is painful, as many of the trustees said, to raise tuition, but in order to keep offering an academic program, you have to have some revenue."
The board also approved a three-year contract for David Haynes to serve as Interim President. Haynes will be compensated with former President Les Wong's salary of nearly $202,000.
While there is no official timetable, the board hopes to begin a search for a new president at the end of this academic year.
TV Station Profiles & Public Inspection Files forWLUC