EL PASO, Texas -- UTEP officials unveiled a tuition increase proposal Tuesday that would add $280 to tuition over the next two academic years.

Currently, UTEP students pay $3,184 per semester. That amount would increase to $3,324 fall 2010 and increase again to $3,464 in the fall of 2011.

UTEP administrators said the increasing enrollment and their intentions of becoming a tier one research school forced them to increase their tuition.

They said they must maintain competitive pay for faculty or they risk losing them to other schools.

Some students are upset to hear it may cost them more next semester.

"It'll cut into your food, it cuts into your clothing, it cuts into your child care, and it cuts into your gas ... We're going to have to take the money from somewhere, but I don't know where," said student Genevieve MacFall.

Administrators said the increase is minimal compared to other schools.

"While it is an investment, and sometimes it's a painful investment, we at UTEP have kept our increases at the absolute minimum,” said Richard Padilla, UTEP’s vice president of student affairs.

The next tuition forums will be held at 11:30 a.m. Wednesday, Nov. 18 in the Union Cinema, Union Building East, on the first floor. The final forum will be open to the general public at 3 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 19 in the Undergraduate Learning Center, room 106.

A final recommendation will be made in the final days of this calendar year.