ABERDEEN, S.D.(WNAX)- The South Dakota Board of Regents is meeting this week at Northern State University in Aberdeen.

General Counsel Nathan Lukkes updated the board on their legislative agenda.

Lukkes says funding the “Freedom Scholarship” was a major achievement.

The Regents previously asked for one million dollars to start the scholarship, which was rejected.

Lukkes says it was a unique legislative year.

Lukkes was sitting in for Executive Director Brian Maher, who was ill.

The South Dakota Board of Regents was ordered by last years legislature to study the shared administration of the six state universities and report back by late this year.

Jay Perry, Policy and Planning Advisor, told the board the “SB55” task force has been making progress.

Perry says they will have an update next month.

Perry says they expect to have their report done on time.

The bill wants the Regents to identify possible cost savings and effciencies in running the six state schools.

The South Dakota Board of Regents approved tuition and fee increases for the six universities.

System Vice President for Finance, Heather Forney explained the cost increases.

Forney says there are some differences among the schools.

Students at Northern State, Dakota State, and Black Hills State will see higher increases due to dorm projects on those campuses.

Forney says cost for housing and food will also see a slight increase.

Tuition had been frozen for the last two years.