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WINCHESTER – Umpqua Community College may raise student tuition by $2 per credit now that its board has approved the first reading of a $1 hike for the next two school years.
The proposal requests a $1 hike per credit for next year, to $66 from $65, and then another $1 increase in 2011-12.
Board members on Tuesday reluctantly approved the increase by a vote of six to one. Administrators say the tuition hikes are necessary in light of declining revenue from the state and more students to serve.
“You know, it's not an easy thing to talk about … I don't like this but I don't see any way around it,” said board member David Briggs. “What's happening is the state is disinvesting in community colleges on a per-student basis.”
President Blaine Nisson said state support, which hasn't been recalculated for the glut of students community colleges have taken on this year, is about $2,000 a student, compared with $4,000 several years ago.
The proposed increase will come back to the board for a second reading, at which time board members have asked for feedback from student government on how UCC students view the second consecutive increase.
Last year school officials deliberated for months over a $3 increase proposal. Ultimately, last-minute funding from the state prompted the board to limit the increase to $2 per credit, from $63 to $65.
Vice President of Administrative Services Bev Brandt said despite her attempts to solicit feedback from students, she has not yet heard from students on the new proposal.
Brandt said each $1 of increased tuition brings in about $116,800 of revenue to the college. She said that even with the raises, UCC will have the lowest per-credit tuition cost of the 17 Oregon community colleges. UCC is currently tied with Klamath Community College for lowest tuition, but KCC is set to raise its tuition by $2 next year.
Board Chairwoman Betty Tamm said the increase in financial aid might help offset the increased costs.
“There is a lot help available,” she said. “I don't like to put a burden on the students, but there is help.”
Also in Tuesday's meeting, the board approved a resolution to increase appropriations for the Financial Aid Fund by $15.85 million for the Direct Loan Program, Pell Grant and the Oregon Opportunity Grant. Brandt had told the board that the financial aid department expects to award more than $36.9 million in student aid by the end of the year.
Vice President of Student Development Lynn Moore said the college has awarded about $800,000 in scholarships so far this year.
Board member Bob Bell, who cast the lone dissenting vote on the tuition increase, said he disliked the idea that because student aid was up, tuition could be raised, too. He worried about students living off educational loans.
“I'm a little reluctant to say ‘It's OK to suck money from the feds, so go ahead and raise the tuition,'” he said. “There is a possibility of a revolving door developing here – if they go to school, we'll give them money.”
Board member Tom Keel said if a tuition hike were needed, a consistent and incremental transition was best.
“If we don't raise now, in a few years it'll be an increase of $3 to $4,” he said. “Every time we've held up on something, when we get to it the next time it costs us more.”
In other business, the board:
• Approved a 50-cent increase in fees for the management information system, from $2 to $2.50, for the next school year.
• Approved the hire of a new firm for general counsel for next year, with the contract renewable for up to three years. The Eugene firm Gartland, Nelson, McCleery, Wade and Walloch, PC was hired at a rate of $180 per hour. The firm has done prior work with other community colleges and public entities.
• Approved the layoff of one full-time counselor position associated with the Transfer Opportunity Program grant, because the position wasn't included in the new grant proposal. Moore said the grant was restructured to better serve the 166 students TOP reaches.
• Approved the contract renewals for the next year for UCC's administrators, confidential, exempt, probationary and regular faculty.
• You can reach reporter DD Bixby at 541-957-4211 or by e-mail at dbixby@nrtoday.com.
The proposal requests a $1 hike per credit for next year, to $66 from $65, and then another $1 increase in 2011-12.
Board members on Tuesday reluctantly approved the increase by a vote of six to one. Administrators say the tuition hikes are necessary in light of declining revenue from the state and more students to serve.
“You know, it's not an easy thing to talk about … I don't like this but I don't see any way around it,” said board member David Briggs. “What's happening is the state is disinvesting in community colleges on a per-student basis.”
President Blaine Nisson said state support, which hasn't been recalculated for the glut of students community colleges have taken on this year, is about $2,000 a student, compared with $4,000 several years ago.
The proposed increase will come back to the board for a second reading, at which time board members have asked for feedback from student government on how UCC students view the second consecutive increase.
Last year school officials deliberated for months over a $3 increase proposal. Ultimately, last-minute funding from the state prompted the board to limit the increase to $2 per credit, from $63 to $65.
Vice President of Administrative Services Bev Brandt said despite her attempts to solicit feedback from students, she has not yet heard from students on the new proposal.
Brandt said each $1 of increased tuition brings in about $116,800 of revenue to the college. She said that even with the raises, UCC will have the lowest per-credit tuition cost of the 17 Oregon community colleges. UCC is currently tied with Klamath Community College for lowest tuition, but KCC is set to raise its tuition by $2 next year.
Board Chairwoman Betty Tamm said the increase in financial aid might help offset the increased costs.
“There is a lot help available,” she said. “I don't like to put a burden on the students, but there is help.”
Also in Tuesday's meeting, the board approved a resolution to increase appropriations for the Financial Aid Fund by $15.85 million for the Direct Loan Program, Pell Grant and the Oregon Opportunity Grant. Brandt had told the board that the financial aid department expects to award more than $36.9 million in student aid by the end of the year.
Vice President of Student Development Lynn Moore said the college has awarded about $800,000 in scholarships so far this year.
Board member Bob Bell, who cast the lone dissenting vote on the tuition increase, said he disliked the idea that because student aid was up, tuition could be raised, too. He worried about students living off educational loans.
“I'm a little reluctant to say ‘It's OK to suck money from the feds, so go ahead and raise the tuition,'” he said. “There is a possibility of a revolving door developing here – if they go to school, we'll give them money.”
Board member Tom Keel said if a tuition hike were needed, a consistent and incremental transition was best.
“If we don't raise now, in a few years it'll be an increase of $3 to $4,” he said. “Every time we've held up on something, when we get to it the next time it costs us more.”
In other business, the board:
• Approved a 50-cent increase in fees for the management information system, from $2 to $2.50, for the next school year.
• Approved the hire of a new firm for general counsel for next year, with the contract renewable for up to three years. The Eugene firm Gartland, Nelson, McCleery, Wade and Walloch, PC was hired at a rate of $180 per hour. The firm has done prior work with other community colleges and public entities.
• Approved the layoff of one full-time counselor position associated with the Transfer Opportunity Program grant, because the position wasn't included in the new grant proposal. Moore said the grant was restructured to better serve the 166 students TOP reaches.
• Approved the contract renewals for the next year for UCC's administrators, confidential, exempt, probationary and regular faculty.
• You can reach reporter DD Bixby at 541-957-4211 or by e-mail at dbixby@nrtoday.com.
