April 4 , 2006
NEWSASMCC says yes to hike in fees to fund services
Not only will tuition be increasing next semester, but the registration fees will be tripled as well.
MCC instituted a $5 registration fee in 1992 and it has remained the same for the last 14 years.
Gaye Murphy, the district’s associate vice chancellor for business services, said the fees are increasing by so much because they have not been increased for many years.
Murphy also said that half of the registration increase, in this case $5, will go back to each community college directly in the district.
The remaining $5 of the increase will be deposited in the general operations fund. Murphy said that the general operating fund is used to offset district costs such as instruction, student services, registration, and admissions. The general operations fund does not fund anything to do with any of the collegiate sports programs, Murphy stated.
Although most students do not seem concerned about the registration increases, some are getting fed up with constant tuition increases, said ASMCC President Jeffrey Linford.
MCC held a forum outside the Kirk Center where they were informed of the tuition and registration increases.
After the speeches they were allowed to ask questions and lunch was provided.
Linford said that he had hoped Murphy would stay and answer more questions, but she left. According to both Murphy and Linford, a lack of communication was the problem.
“I didn’t want to take food that was for the students,” Murphy said.
Murphy went on to say that had she been aware that there were more questions and had she been asked to stay she would have.
Linford said his administration is for the registration increase.
“We know that $5 (of the increase) is going to student services. We support that because we’ll have more money for student events,” Linford explained.
Linford stated that funding for student services has always been a problem and that is why he is in favor of the increase.
“Student services is a broad term, but we’re hoping it (the money) will go to fund student activities,” Linford stated.
Linford also said another reason he is in favor of the increase is that the students don’t seem upset by it.
Linford stated that he has not been approached by anyone having a problem with registration increases, but his door is open to discuss the situation.