For Northern Kentucky University students, it was the second dose of bad news in the past week.

On Tuesday, they learned they may face a 16.7 percent increase in tuition next fall. Last week, they saw hopes for a $43 million arena and $18 million student center dashed after the Kentucky General Assembly failed to agree on a new state budget.

Many factors figure into the tuition rise, from rising operating expenses to $5.2 million in cuts resulting from Kentucky's $1 billion deficit. But university officials say it is clearly exacerbated by legislators' failure to pass a new budget.

New state money would have helped pay for expanded academic programs and technology, besides the construction. They would have also provided stable funding - a loss the university will make up for by earmarking $2 million for reserves.

Some of what the state did not fund in operating expenses the university will cover; part will be passed on to students.

Tuition increases are never pleasant, but the size and timing of this one seem especially unfortunate. The stars have aligned nicely for NKU within the last three years, despite budget woes, and the school seems on the brink of major advances.

Gov. Ernie Fletcher not only advocated the high-profile construction projects, but proposed spending $5 million to help catch NKU funding up to that of other state schools. Both the Kentucky House and Senate placed NKU building proposals on the table. And the university is toughening admissions standards, courting a high-tech business triangle and basking in significant increases in enrollment.

Most NKU students will find a way to make up the increase, which amounts to $624 annually. The larger issues are continuing the momentum NKU has spent three years building, and establishing adequate and dependable state funding. Kentucky lawmakers failed in that responsibility last week but could still remedy it by passing a budget in special session before June 30.

Those steps will help NKU curb large tuition increases in the future and will allow all the Commonwealth's colleges, universities and public schools to plan better and dream bigger.