STORRS, Conn. -- On Monday, students protested at the University of Connecticut in Storrs over proposed tuition hikes.

Those tuition fee hikes are well above the inflation rate. Parents of college students hear of tuition hikes all the time and it's no different at UConn. Officials there are proposing a 6.3 percent hike beginning in the fall. This time, students are saying something about it.

Even on a cold, blustery day, UConn students gathered to gain support for their position, saying they are paying enough already. In the center of campus, students used loud music and a loudspeaker to get their messages across that the tuition hike is too much to handle in these tough economic times.

UConn junior Jason Ortiz said, "If we have to pay more, we want to know where it's going to go, and when we start to see our classes getting bigger, less classes available, less qualified teachers, we're not really understanding where all this extra increase is going."

"There is a lot of ways they could be saving money. We think that they just haven't looked at. For instance, like in Gampel, lights are on 24/7," UConn junior Nina Hunter said.

Tough economic times are exactly why the university said it must hike the tuition. UConn Vice President Richard Gray explained at a town hall meeting held by the university that while personnel and other costs keep going up, the state government's level of funding is not.

Gray said, "In fiscal year 10, we were flat funded, which means we got about the same appropriation as fiscal year 09. In fiscal year 11, in the governor's budget that just came out last week, we were again flat funded for fiscal year 11."

UConn adds many schools across the country are going through double-digit tuition increases, also pointing out that even with the hike, the university remained an academic bargain, in the middle when it comes to costs compared to other state schools in New England and the mid-Atlantic.

The total tuition and fees would be just above $10,000. Also being raised, room and board, both in the six to seven point range.

Michael Kirk issued a statement to Channel 3 Eyewitness News that said:

“Public universities throughout the nation are dealing with budget shortfalls. UConn has had to absorb more than $20 million in state budget recessions in the last two years alone, while continuing to meet our obligations to students and provide the same quality education.”

“While other universities are seeing double digit tuition increases this year – one as high as 30% - this single-digit increase now will help reduce the need for larger increases down the road.”

“Even with a 6.3% increase in tuition, UConn would very much remain an academic bargain; when it comes to cost, we are right in the middle when compared with our peer institutions in the region and UConn costs significantly less than comparable private schools in the region.” [see chart]

“Regarding controlling costs, UConn has identified numerous cost-savings measures in the past year, $4 million of which have already been implemented. Also, UConn faculty and staff agreed to concessions last year, including a wage-freeze, mandatory furlough days and higher healthcare costs.”

Other points:

-The University will propose to the Board of Trustees that tuition be increased by 6.3% in fiscal year 2011. Room and board costs would go up by 7% and 6% respectively.

-It is up to UConn’s Board of Trustees to make a decision on the cost of tuition, room and board. They will vote at their Feb. 18 meeting.

-UConn has had to absorb more than $20 million in budget recessions in the last two years, a loss of $8 million from our reserves, flat funding from the state and very little investment income because of the economy, yet we must continue to meet our obligations to students.

-Other public systems are seeing tuition increases in the double digits this year – including 30% in California.

-While we will essentially break-even in 2011, the budget outlook for 2012 presents far more challenges. A single-digit increase in tuition now will help reduce the need for an even larger increase down the road.

-We have done very little hiring in the last two years. The problem is that when there are not enough faculty to teach courses, it can take longer for students to complete their needed classes because there are fewer sections, making it more difficult for them to graduate in four years. This can add more than $9,000 to the cost of a student’s education.