Trustees approve 3.5% tuition increase, contract extensions and a new university property regulation

The University of Rhode Island Board of Trustees approved several budgetary and operational measures during its Feb. 13 open session, including a 3.5 percent tuition increase, modest mandatory-fee adjustments, extensions to two vendor contracts and a trustees’ regulation governing use of university property.

Key outcomes - Tuition and mandatory fees: The board approved a 3.5 percent tuition increase for both in‑state and out‑of‑state students and a 0.7 percent net increase in mandatory fees for fiscal year 2026. Finance staff told trustees the increase seeks to balance operating needs while limiting potential enrollment impacts. The finance presentation attributed most fee changes to targeted student services: an increment for fitness/wellness to support equipment and student workers and a Memorial Union fee to support interim capital needs ahead of a larger renovation. Committee materials presented an overall recommendation of a 3 percent average increase for housing and dining, and also included line-item figures that committee staff described as a 2 percent housing increase and a 4.7 percent dining increase; trustees discussed those figures and approved the recommendation as presented.

- Contracts: The board approved a short-term extension of the university’s marketing services contract with Katie Shriebler and Associates to bridge the university while it completes a new RFP process. Trustees also approved an increase to the campus shuttle services contract with First Transit (time-and-materials ceiling); committee materials presented a recommended incremental amount to the contract ceiling to cover expected service hours while the university prepares a future procurement process.

- University property regulation: Following a public comment period and an ad hoc task-force review, trustees approved a Board of Trustees regulation governing the use of university property. University staff told the governance committee the regulation was revised after receiving community comments to clarify protections for free expression, delineate enforcement versus disciplinary procedures, and to preserve bona fide academic and student uses of buildings after hours. The approved regulation is the version the governance committee recommended to the full board.

How the votes were taken: All votes described above were taken by voice; meeting minutes record the motions and voice votes and show the motions were approved. At the meeting, one trustee identified himself as “Ahmed” when making the motion to approve tuition and fees; the marketing-services motion was moved in open session by a trustee recorded as Neil (motion) and seconded by a trustee recorded as Leslie. The First Transit extension was presented and approved after committee review; meeting minutes show the motion carried.

Context and next steps: Trustees and administration discussed the governor’s recommended appropriation while voting on tuition and fees; staff said the tuition increase would yield additional operating revenue but that state appropriations remained uncertain. Finance and facilities staff told trustees they will continue to monitor enrollment and state budget outcomes and will adjust internal allocations if needed. Procurement staff will proceed with the RFP process for marketing services and with the planned competitive procurement for future transit services. The governance committee and university staff also said the new property-use regulation will be posted and implementation procedures (for example, decibel guidelines for amplified sound) will be developed by the Department of Public Safety and relevant campus offices.

No vote recorded on Alton Jones: Public commenters asked the board to reopen the W. Alton Jones Environmental Education Center during the meeting’s open forum; trustees acknowledged the comments, but the board did not take formal action on the campus during open session.

Actions extracted from meeting record - Approve tuition and mandatory fee changes for FY 2026 (3.5% tuition; 0.7% fee increase) — Motion moved by "Ahmed" (as recorded in the meeting), voice vote, approved. - Approve short-term extension of marketing services contract with Katie Shriebler and Associates — Motion moved by Neil (as recorded), seconded by Leslie, voice vote, approved. - Approve increase (ceiling) to First Transit campus shuttle services contract to cover expected operations while a future procurement is prepared — Motion moved/seconded (names not specified in minutes), voice vote, approved. - Approve Board of Trustees regulation on use of university property (revised after public comment) — Motion moved by Monica Garnes (recorded in meeting), seconded by Neil, voice vote, approved. - Omnibus approval of committee minutes and recommended action items — Voice vote, approved.

Speakers and staff who presented on these items included Finance & Facilities Committee chair Vahid (committee chair), Abby (university staff; facilities/procurement), and governance committee chair Courtney; the full finance committee and governance committee discussed and recommended the items before the full board vote.

The board did not record roll-call tallies in open session; motions were carried by voice vote and recorded in the minutes as approved.