NORMAL - Illinois State University's board is expected Friday to OK a 9 percent tuition increase for all 2007-08 incoming students.

The $224 per-credit-hour tuition rate would be locked in for four years under state rules for public universities.

In addition, the ISU trustees will be asked to approve the university's call for establishing a maintainence fund covering academic facilities, technology and infrastructure on the campus.

With that fund's creation, each new ISU student also would pay a $9 per-credit-hour assessment.

If the board approves proposed increases for fees, new students also would pay $56.91 per hour in student fees.

For a new full-time, in-state undergraduate student taking 15 credit hours per semester, the combined tuition and assessment, along with mandatory student fees , translates to estimated annual costs of $8,987.

Room and board costs would be separate and are not bound by the four-year rule. As proposed to the board, plan costs for 2007-08 would be as follows:

- On-campus housing rates would range from roughly $3,546 to $6,062; representing a 9.2 percent increase over last year.

- Dining plans would range between $3,288 and $4,026; representing an 11.5 percent increase.