A gloomy tone is predicted to preside today’s Board of Supervisors meeting as budget cuts and tuition increases dominate the topics of discussion.  Board members will review proposals to cut about $52 million from the LSU System. These cuts include leaving vacant faculty and staff positions unfilled, thinning senior administrative ranks, eliminating courses and combining departments, according to System spokesman Charles Zewe. The Board will also decide whether to increase tuition for a number of University students and assess an academic excellence fee of $120 per semester for full-time students of the Paul M. Hebert Law Center, both which would take effect in the fall. LSU A&M in Baton Rouge is asking the Board to approve a $1,000 per semester increase for full-time masters of business administration students, a $750 per semester increase for full-time School of Veterinary Medicine students and a $30 per credit hour increase for full-time graduate students. Proportional amounts of each increase will also be applied to part-time students and students enrolled in summer sessions. A waiver from the increases is available for students with financial hardships. The tuition increases are expected to generate $3.95 million, which the University plans to use to support graduate student programs and assistantships, according to the bill. This includes “recruiting, retaining and rewarding graduate faculty and recruiting and enrolling quality graduate students.”The Law Center predicts implementing the academic excellence fee will generate $144,000 in revenue.  —-Contact Katie Kennedy at [email protected]