By Maria Altman, St. Louis Public Radio
St. Louis, MO. – Despite a state funding cut the president of the University of Missouri says the system is holding up well.
The University of Missouri has held tuition costs steady in exchange for a relatively minor five-point-two percent funding cut from the state.
UM president Gary Forsee says given the state's budget situation the cuts could have been much deeper.
"I think it bodes well that Missourians are going to be sure that we have access and affordability in mind as we think about the students," Forsee said.
Forsee says faculty and staff salaries will be frozen for the second year in a row.
He says the UM system's salaries are currently below market and making them more competitive will be a challenge.
But the president is staying mum about the school's chances of joining the Big Ten athletic conference.
Forsee says it's been a source of intense speculation, but one the university is stepping away from.