ANCHORAGE -- The Board of Regents voted in favor of a 7 percent increase in tuition during its meeting at UAA in an 8-2 vote Friday.

After hearing extensive public testimony both supporting and opposing the raise, the regents agreed to an increase that would keep pace with rising operational costs for the university. But it voted down a measure that would have added between 1 and 3 percent in tuition that would have been used to pay for need-based financial aid.

President Mark Hamilton expressed his pleasure regarding the proceedings of the meeting. Student testimony ultimately persuaded the board members to reconsider attaching the additional 1-3 percent increase, he said.

"The students were just so involved in this issue. They went through it and rejected the idea of needs-based. It is done at many other universities, but the students were very clear on that and said it shouldn't be done here," Hamilton said. "And obviously, the board responded by saying, no, we're not going there."

UAA Chancellor Elaine Maimon also applauded the active participation of many students at the meeting.

"The University of Alaska has one of the lowest tuition prices in the United States and yet we have this very low affordability rating," Maimon said. "Our students looked at that, studied it and came up with excellent arguments for why that was not a good thing for our student population. It was just a great example of the student input in a constructive and positive way."

Maimon also praised the student leadership involved in the presentation of the idea of grandfathering tuition credits.

"They came up with the idea of grandfathering tuition," she said, "the idea that the tuition someone pays as a freshman is the same amount they will be paying as a senior."

Regent Robert Martin of Juneau, who was one of the two regents to vote against the tuition increase, explained that he didn't support the raise because he was not presented with proper justification for the necessity of an increase.

"I didn't hear what the alternatives were. I asked yesterday what were a list of things we would have to give up (if the increase wasn't implemented) and what the priority of those things were. And I didn't get a clear idea of what they were," Martin said. "I also have great sympathy because I was a student at university once and I know how difficult it can be to meet those rising costs."

Additionally, Martin clarified his stance on using tuition increases to pay for a need-based financial aid program.

"Well, a lot of the people I grew up with and represent are very needy, but I don't believe that taxing the students who are in school to help pay for those who need help going to school is the right thing to do," Martin said.

USUAA Vice President Justice Brooks expressed a more negative reaction to the tuition increase.

"I think it's a travesty to the students; I think the BOR needs to step up and take a stand against the UA administration," Brooks said. "I also feel that the voice of the people was not heard adequately and that there was not enough student representation there."

The board also heard testimony from faculty, professors, students and community members concerning a myriad of other issues. Among them was the creation of an international studies program and the building of recreation facilities near the residence halls.

Also in attendance were gubernatorial candidates Tony Knowles, Sarah Palin and Andrew Halcro. Each candidate showed up throughout the two-day meeting to individually address the board and answer questions regarding the university system's future.