| College tuition once again on the rise
Tiffany German
Mesa Legend
A $5 per credit tuition increase was approved by the governing board at a meeting held on Tuesday, March 22 with a four to one decision. As a result, the prices of tuition will swell up once again.
The increase go into effect July 1, and includes all 10 community colleges and learning centers in the Maricopa district.
Single mothers and broke college students gave an amazingly persuasive argument against the raise, yet were unsuccessful on winning over the board members.
“As I take care of a family and pay rent and other bills, it’s hard to imagine tuition being more expensive than it already is, considering I can’t even afford it now,” said Kristen Weston.
Board member, Jerry Walker, also showed sympathy for the students who will endure the cost.
“I believe we would be better off not to increase tuition, but to find other means and opportunities and to incorporate the students so that we can come up with the money to meet our needs,” said Walker.
With this being the eighth year in a row of tuition increases, students are wondering why this is happening and where their money is headed to.
Enrollment at the 10 Maricopa Community Colleges is growing at a rapid rate. By 2010, the enrollment is expected to reach 400,000 students.
With all of these newcomers there will be a much higher demand for staff, equipment, and more courses will need to be offered. The school will also need more faculty to help enroll and advise all of these students..
Rufus Glasper, chancellor of the Maricopa Community College district, said that in the last two and a half years, the district has received no funding for the colleges. Glasper said that, within the last 12 to 15 years, the schools have been underfunded.
“This commitment will offer us more scholarship money.”
Glasper also said that the measure will also help the district “maintain the quality of education for the future students, new faculty, and staff.”
“The plan will provide almost $2 million in funding for scholarships. Students will benefit from a bigger budget in scholarships such as the Presidential and The Hoop of learning scholarship,” said Glasper.
In addition, students will still be able to take advantage of a variety of financial aid programs and loans from the federal government.
The new cost of annual tuition will grow to $1,800 for a student taking a full course load with 30 credit hours.
Debra Thompson, vice chancellor, believes that this tuition increase is going to have a very positive effect on the students.
“Without this increase our students will suffer, they will not get the courses they need.”
“With this increase we can add funds for benefit increases, salary increases and other small adjustments that we desperately need for our establishment to excel,” said Thompson.
It is predictable that the increase will produce more that $13 million to make up for rising costs.
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