UMass student trustees push state Senate to back $478.7 million in funding - Matt Camara, South Coast Today

As the state Senate budget debate kicks off, UMass student trustees are asking senators to fund the five-campus university system at a level that would prevent tuition and fee hikes next year. "Incrementally, it increases by about $500 a year. That's a lot of money," said Joshua Encarnacion, UMass Dartmouth's student trustee. The trustees, in a statement this week, backed a budget amendment by state Sen. Michael Moore, D-Millbury, that would provide $478.7 million to the five-campus university system. The House approved a $478 million budget for UMass but the Senate Ways and Means Committee last week proposed just $455 million. The $455 million proposal is an increase over this year's $439 million budget but it's short of what UMass President Robert L. Caret has said is needed to freeze tuition and fees. http://www.southcoasttoday.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20130522/NEWS/305220336/-1/NEWS