Officials at Minnesota State Colleges and Universities have whacked their request for state funds nearly in half.

On Wednesday, the system's Board of Trustees decided to seek $71.7 million more from the state over two years. That's 43.4 percent less than the $126.7 million it had been considering and the smallest request in the system's 13-year history.

"It's a bare-bones budget," said spokeswoman Melinda Voss, and it responds to what are expected to be lean times at the Legislature.

Trustees did not decide which programs would stay or go if the state were to fully fund the request. The $71.7 million covers little more than $58.7 million in expected inflation over two years. It does not include funding for:

• A new grant program for part-time students

• Continuing and expanding the Power of You program, which gives graduates of Minneapolis and St. Paul public schools two years at system schools free of charge

• Additional funds to attract and retain faculty

• New programs in the agriculture industry and bio-sciences

• Expanding capacity at Metropolitan State University through leasing or buying additional buildings

The request assumes -- but does not promise -- tuition increases of 3 percent a year at the system's seven state universities and 2 percent at its two-year colleges. That's a percentage lower in each category than the preliminary budget request presented in September.

MnSCU counts on state funds for about half its revenue and currently receives nearly $1.4 billion.

In October, the University of Minnesota completed its request for a $141 million increase over two years to the nearly $1.5 billion the state currently gives it. The U also called for raising tuition by 9 percent and faculty and staff pay by 6 percent over the same period.

JENNA ROSS