Plans to give Wescoe Hall a new look have been shelved, a Kansas University official said Wednesday.

Kim Wilcox, dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, said a survey showed only 29 percent of students supported increasing tuition fees to renovate Wescoe and other campus buildings. That convinced him against recommending the plan to Chancellor Robert Hemenway.

“I’m disappointed,” Wilcox said. “It was students who first advocated the facilities investments. I think it would have been one of the most exciting things to happen to the college for a long time.”

Under the proposal, Wescoe would have gained a new facade, in brick or terra cotta, a clock tower and a new entryway on the north side, commonly called “Wescoe Beach” by those who pass time there between classes. The renovations would have cost between $30 million and $40 million. Construction of a $70 million science building was also planned, as were various other renovations at Bailey, Blake and Fraser halls.

To pay the costs, however, KU would have increased tuition rates for students taking classes in the college by $30 a credit hour, phased in during three years. Twenty percent of the increase would have been set aside for financial aid.

Results of a universitywide Internet survey, answered by 1,472 students — or 6 percent of the 25,000 students solicited — showed 29 percent supporting the tuition increase, 12 percent undecided and 59 percent opposed.

“Our stance was it was not well thought out,” said Dennis Cheney, a freshman student senator from Paola who opposed the plan. “It would put a horrible burden on students. The fact was, the whole thing was backwards to begin with. Students shouldn’t have to pay for that kind of thing, and they came up with the idea of differential tuition before they decided what it should pay for.”

Twelve of KU’s 14 schools charge tuition higher than KU’s rate. They range from $15 per credit hour more in the schools of education, fine arts and journalism to $136 for master’s students in the School of Business.

The Kansas University College of Liberal Arts and Sciences has decided not to recommend proposing a 0 credit hour fee to pay for renovations to Wescoe Hall, shown above in an artist's rendering. Only 29 percent of student participants in an online survey supported the tuition increase.

The other school without differential tuition — social welfare — is devising a plan that could start in the fall.

Wilcox said he wouldn’t rule out discussion of differential tuition for the college in the future. He said he would meet with student advisers to decide how to proceed.

Valerie Tarbutton, a freshman from Overland Park who served on Wilcox’s tuition advisory committee, said she thought information from the survey would prove helpful in future discussions. Donor money for the project could help ease the tuition burden on students, she said.

6News video: Students put stop to tuition proposal

“My personal hope is we could still go after those alumni dollars or go after money from the state or federal government,” Tarbutton said. “We’re not going to give up. We’ll definitely still look at other avenues.”