By JEFF AMY Associated Press JACKSON – Mississippi’s eight public universities are raising tuition by an average of 6.6 percent next fall, saying state budget cuts require them to raise more revenue from students. The College Board on Thursday approved additional tuition increases at all of the universities. The vote came without the normal 30-day waiting period, and increases bumped up the normally scheduled tuition increases that were approved last fall. The statewide average for two semesters of full-time tuition and fees will rise by an average of $463 to $7,491. “The reality of the situation is we’ve had some very significant reductions,” said Mississippi State University President Mark Keenum, saying universities have been forced to adjust to multiple midyear budget cuts, in addition to the decrease in state funding set to begin July 1. Before Thursday’s changes, rates had been scheduled to go up 3.8 percent, on average.