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MONTGOMERY – The
State Board of Education today authorized an adjustment of the tuition
rate for community and technical colleges from $71 to $85 per credit
hour for spring semester 2010, an adjustment of approximately 19.7
percent. The overall increase for the typical student is approximately
15.56 percent, since fees are not increasing. The tuition adjustment
will produce approximately $21,521,535 in additional revenue for
2009-10.
For fall semester 2010, tuition will be adjusted to $90 per credit hour.
An annual $2 per credit hour increase was authorized for fall semester
2011 and beyond.
The board also authorized Athens State University to revise its current
tuition schedule. The new tuition range will be $127.00 to $153.00
commencing with the spring 2010 semester. The initial increase to
$127.00 will generate $362,000 in revenue.
Interim Chancellor Joan Y. Davis referenced A Tale of Two Cities in
recommending the tuition rate adjustment. “It’s the worst of times and
the best of times,” said Davis. On the one hand, we have record
enrollment throughout the system. On the other hand, that record
enrollment is straining already tight budgets and resources at our
colleges.”
In the recommendation supporting the tuition rate adjustment, the
following rationale was provided to the board:
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At a time when
America’s community colleges are called upon to serve as the engines
of economic recovery for a nation in crisis, state funds have
diminished significantly while enrollment demands are escalating. In
fact, during the history of the Alabama Community College System,
never before has proration reached current multi-year levels,
resulting in a total cumulative loss of state funding to the Alabama
Community College System of $92,623,480.
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It is predicted
that Alabama will face severe economic challenges during the next
two years. The cuts the state has made this year won’t be enough to
sustain government operations over the next two years. The state
budget for the fiscal year starting October 1 was spared some pain
because of $3 billion the state got in federal stimulus money.
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The Rainy Day Fund
is depleted; the Proration Prevention Account is also depleted; and
tax collections are expected to remain flat or decline. The Alabama
Community College System has not increased tuition and fees since
2004, and its member institutions have rapidly approached
dangerously low levels of available funds to meet basic needs. It is
obvious that no additional funding will be available for the Alabama
Community College System for four to five years or more.
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Given the declared
7.5 percent proration for 2009-2010, dire economic projections,
absence of federal stimulus funds for the future, and projections
that state funds available to postsecondary education will continue
to decline, the urgency of need has reached epic proportions to
minimally adjust tuition within the Alabama Community College
System. The core mission of the Alabama Community College System is
endangered by the lack of adequate funding to support access for
students most in need of the education provided by the system.
The mission of The
Alabama Community College System is to provide accessible, quality
educational programs that support economic growth and the quality of
life of the people of Alabama. The location of colleges, flexible class
schedules and increasing options for distance learning make it possible
for many to earn college credit while living and working in their own
communities.
Even with the increase, tuition still remains less than 41 percent to 52
percent of that at Alabama’s public universities which have increased
tuition by more than 20 percent over the last two years.
New Tuition
Schedule (2010 - 2011)
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