Brown board approves tuition hike

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) - The governing board of Brown University has approved a 3.2-percent hike in tuition, fees, room and board for undergraduate students, raising the total costs for education to just over $55,000.

The Corporation of Brown University endorsed the measure when members voted Saturday to approve the consolidated operating budget for the 2013 fiscal year. The more than $865 million spending plan is funded by revenues of nearly $856 million and more than $9 million from reserve funds.

The budget includes more than $90 million in financial aid that officials describe as an "all-time high" for the school.

Brown President Ruth Simmons says the governing board strongly endorsed continued talks with Providence city officials to identify how the school could provide additional support to the financially struggling city without overstretching Brown resources.