Volume 38, Issue 13. Today is
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Volume 38, Issue 13. Today is
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District approves $2 tuition increase
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Proposed Spending |
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| $1,662,525 | To fill faculty position |
| $343,561 | To fund faculty recruitment |
| $300,000 | For new disability services |
| $296,160 | Tuition and fee rebate |
| $783,734 | Inflation and business costs |
| Total Revenue = $3.4 million | |
According to Dr. Rufus Glasper, vice chancellor of business services and chief financial officer for the MCCD, the $2 increase was expected to generate approximately $3.4 million districtwide.
"This recommendation was made and supported because property taxes and state aid are insufficient to meet the funding demands for the 2001-2002 fiscal year," Glasper said.
If approved, the $3.4 million will be distributed to the district’s 10 campuses according to their individual budgetary needs.
The district’s critical needs were prioritized and proposed to the MCCD Governing Board by the Financial Advisory Council and the Chancellor’s Executive Council.
After Governing Board approval, the proposal was sent to the State Governing Board, where the tuition increase was to be adopted April 20.
According to Rick DeGraw, MCCD spokesman, the district has been growing approximately 5 percent a year.
DeGraw projects that by the year 2010, MCCD’s student population may exceed 400,000.
"The numbers are just overwhelming," DeGraw said. "We have to stay ahead of that growth curve. The only way to do that is to stay ahead financially."
DeGraw emphasized that constant changes in the technology industry have contributed to the need for more funds.
"The cost of training in a technological economy has skyrocketed," DeGraw said. "Part of that is the cost of equipment."
New programs and courses are being offered throughout the district, including at Gateway Community College, Rio Salado Community College, Chandler-Gilbert Community College and Scottsdale Community College.
"Each college had to evaluate the demand for courses," said Debra Thompson, director of financial planning for the MCCD, who co-wrote the proposal with Glasper. "They make their own priorities based on goals they have, the level of need that exists."
MCC welding courses proposed an increase for the cost of supplies from $60 to $75, while the Nursing Program will charge an additional $2 for testing districtwide.
Several new MCC courses in music, math and English also have been written into the new budget.
"It doesn’t seem like a huge increase," said MCC student Megan Christopherson, who, because of her scholarship, feels unaffected by the tuition hike. "I still think the state (Legislature) should allow more of those fundings, and not ask students to pay more."
"It’s not that big a problem, as long as the money is allotted back to the schools," said MCC student Max Gibbons.
MCC student Annie Martinsen expressed concerns that the tuition increase will have to continue due to large district growth.
"If they have to increase (tuition) every year, eventually it’s going to be quite a large sum that they’re asking," Martinsen said.
MCCD Governing Board member Linda Rosenthal believes that the increase is justified because funds from the Legislature have focused on developing the K-12 system.
"A very small amount of our budget comes from the state aid. It’s based on enrollment generated two years ago, so we’re always behind," Rosenthal said. "We get every cent we can from our property tax. The only outlet we have, truthfully, is raising tuition."
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