The LSU Board of Supervisors unanimously approved tuition increases for University graduate, Vet school and masters of business administration students, as well as a $120 academic excellence fee for Paul M. Hebert Law Center students at its meeting Thursday.     Chancellor Michael Martin said the Board acted “just right.”    “When the Legislature approved [Act 313], that sent a message to the Board that this was the right thing to do,” Martin said.     The University predicts the tuition increases will generate $3.9 million in revenue, and the Law Center fee will add $144,000 to the budget.     Law Center Chancellor Jack Weiss said he and his administration held several town hall meetings with Law Center students to get feedback on implementing the fee and did not hear any objections. Weiss said his students realized the fee was necessary to move forward with progressive hiring and granting a high level of scholarships in light of the mid-year budget cuts.     Martin said the University did not hold any forums to discuss the tuition increases, but he did meet with students leaders and representatives.     “We didn’t have objections,” Martin said. “Of course students don’t want to increase tuition, but they understand. They’re smart enough to know that a cheap education at a low price is not a bargain.”    Act 313 mandates a tuition increase waiver for students with financial hardships be provided.     The Board was also presented with a preliminary budget which outlined the University’s plans to deal with a $19 million state funding cut for the 2009-10 fiscal year.     Martin said the budget is subject to changes depending on feedback from the Board before its final approval at the August meeting. But even then, he noted, anything is possible.     “We’re trying to build a budget in an uncertain world,” Martin said. “Even after it’s finalized, we’re going to be constantly updating it.”    The Board paused the dealings of tuition and fee increases for a special appearance from LSU baseball coach Paul Mainieri.    “In the wake of gloomy news of budgets and fees, it’s a thrill to have something to celebrate,” Martin said.     Mainieri received a standing ovation from Board members, something he called “another remarkable moment” in his life. Mainieri regaled the Board with stories from Omaha and attempted to put into the words how it felt to win a College World Series championship.     “You never know how you’re supposed to feel,” Mainieri said. “But you look in the eyes of those 25 kids, and you realize it’s the last time that group of kids will ever be together. And they’re just remarkable. Not just on the field but in school and in community service.”    Mainieri said the greatest part of the accomplishment is the joy it brought to the fans.     “It was so much fun, I think we’re just going to have to go back and do it again,” Mainieri concluded.     When the Board got back to official business, it unanimously approved a retirement incentive plan for qualified Agricultural Center employees. The plan is still in the concept stage, and today’s approval gave System President John Lombardi authority to approve the plan once it is finalized. As it stands, the incentive plan “shall include an incentive payment structure in accordance with a schedule that is reasonably proportionate to the eligible employee’s salary and must provide that an individual employee may receive no more than $25,000.”    Approximately 90 AgCenter employees are eligible for the incentive, but administrators predict a maximum of 50 employees will participate. If 50 employees take part, the AgCenter will save $517,671 in fiscal year 2009-10 and $3 million in fiscal year 2010-11. —-Contact Katie Kennedy at [email protected]