Eastern’s tuition revenues could total $1.8 million for next fiscal year.

The number was one estimate the Council on University Planning and Budget heard Friday.

The revenues were based on figures from the Bureau of the Budget, said Jeff Cooley, vice president for business affairs.

“We’re really back to where we were in Fiscal Year 2000 in terms of funds received by the state,” he said.

“This thing will play out over the next few weeks.”

The legislature has until May 31 to constitutionally approve next year’s budget proposals. With Eastern facing 8.2 percent in cuts and $3.7 million to be put in reserve, Cooley said he hopes the legislature will change amounts that could be lost from FY04.

The 8.2 percent equals to $4.2 million less in general state funds than Eastern received last fiscal year, Cooley said.

Next year’s tuition increase is based on Gov. Rod Blagojevich’s estimates for an increase capped at about 5 percent.

“This is not actual tuition revenue,” Cooley said.

A truth-in-tuition bill in the legislature now would guarantee tuition be increased no more than 5 percent for incoming freshmen, a rate they would pay all four years.

Depending on the bill’s success, the tuition limit could be in place for fall 2004, he said.

A separate bill proposes a cap of 5 percent on all tuition increases.

Last year, the increase in tuition revenues was $2.6 million.

“Right now, as we sit here, we don’t know what the numbers are because there are so many variables,” said Blair Lord, vice president for academic affairs. “To deliver the curriculum to the students as promised … that would be my first priority.”

The budget is more uncertain and it could be June before next year’s cuts are finalized because of the governor’s April budget address, which was later in the year than usual, Cooley said.

The council approved parts of lists on university weaknesses, opportunities and threats.

The lists give council members a chance to work together, Anne Zahlan, English professor and council member, said previously.

The first list broke down weaknesses into the areas of resources and funding, education quality, campus facilities and operations. Some items include compensation for university employees and inadequate resources or improvements needed for the technology infrastructure and related software.

Opportunities were grouped under resources and funding, academic programs and diversity and include items such as an increasing pool of tradition and non-traditional students in higher education.

The threats were grouped under related categories and were items such as a statement of no clear relationship between state funding and internal accountability.