Higher tuition on the way for Washtenaw Community College students
Washtenaw Community College students will need to come up with more cash to pay their tuition bills next academic year.
The WCC Board of Trustees voted Tuesday to increase tuition by $7 per credit hour for a total of $80 per credit hour in 2010-2011.Â
Tuition is going up at WCC.
Photo courtesy of Washtenaw Community College
About half of WCC's income comes from property tax revenue, which has fallen, said Steven Hardy, vice president for finance at WCC. Fewer property tax dollars, combined with rising costs for retirement benefits, means the school will likely face a shortfall of about $1 million next year - even with the higher tuition, Hardy said.
Board members said they discussed the tuition increase in-depth at a two-day board retreat in Detroit at the Westin Book Cadillac Hotel earlier this month. On Tuesday, they characterized the decision to raise tuition as unfortunate but necessary.Â
Lower property assessments, as well as Pfizer pulling out of town and off the tax rolls, had a major impact on the college. The increase of $7, "is a bit of a catch up from what we didn't do last year," board member Pamela Horiszny said.
"These are hard times," Trustee Richard Landau said. "We need to preserve the quality of the education here."
A total of 22 people attended the retreat March 5 and 6, where the tuition increase and other matters were discussed. Attendees included the seven volunteer board members, top administrators and legal counsel.Â
The bill for the weekend came to nearly $10,000 and included rooms for attendees, food, one dinner Friday with the option for alcohol, as well as conference room fees. The board also meets for a retreat in the fall, which is typically a day-long meeting.
"There is a long tradition of taking leadership away to a place where they are not interrupted by their day-to-day activities, where they can totally focus on the issues at hand," board Chair Stephen Gill said.Â
Spending the intensive time together allows the board to build camaraderie and explore the issues with staff, he said.
In other news Tuesday, the board heard a presentation from Lori Trapp, the college's financial aid director, on the financial aid profile of the school's students.Â
From last school year to this school year, WCC saw a 325 percent increase on students filing Federal Application for Federal Student Aid forms for income adjustments, mostly from students who have lost their jobs. The office processed four earlier in the day, Trapp said.Â
In the 2008-2009 academic year, the school processed 73 income adjustments. So far this academic year, the financial aid office has processed 310.
While the numbers aren't in for this school year, the office processed $35 million in financial aid in 2008-2009, almost $10 million more than in 2007-2008, Trapp said.
Juliana Keeping covers higher education for AnnArbor.com. Reach her at julianakeeping@annarbor.com or 734-623-2528. Follow Juliana Keeping on Twitter
Comments
townie
Wed, Mar 24, 2010 : 5:54 p.m.
As long as citizens continue to serve as apologists for public officials who abuse their positions and waste our money, nothing will get better. Rather than overshadowing the tuition hike, the board's obscene spending should shed light on the tuition increase. I am flabbergasted that this board would use a junket to a luxury hotel as the backdrop for deciding to raise tuition for those who can least afford it. That $10,000 would have paid for the $7-per-credit-hour increase on 1428 credit hours. If the average semester course load is 12 credit hours, that $10,000 could have helped 119 students better afford to go to school. $84 might only by one good bottle of champagne for a trustee, but it could make a big difference to someone trying to make ends meet, and better themselves with an education at the same time. This behavior sickens me. Whatever happened to public service being an opportunity to give back to the community?
William Campbell
Wed, Mar 24, 2010 : 4:55 p.m.
The part I find interesting is the $200 per credit hour Course Repeat Fee that was approved at the meeting. One year ago, as a part time instructor I wrote a letter to Larry Whitworth expressing my concerns over policies at the college that result in many students failing or withdrawing. He acknowledged but did not respond to my letter. Having to pay $200 per credit hour would definitely discourage failure and at the same time generate surplus funds. My question is what does the college do to insure the students success and avoid failure? The board did change Mr. Whitworths proposal to invoke the failing penalty only after the fourth occurrence and I consider this to be an improvement for struggling students. I am currently attempting to work with the college and the board on improvements and will continue to post on this and other sites. I am also considering running for trustee in the coming election.
Marc Williams
Wed, Mar 24, 2010 : 4:02 p.m.
@Townie I hope the retreat won't overshadow the tuition increase. An $84 increase for 12 credits, which I maintain is a reasonable increase for the quality WCC offers, will still impact many students. I wonder how the remaining $1 million shortfall will be absorbed. The $10,000 cost of the retreat is really quite small compared with the college's yearly budget (and breaks down to $455/person). That 22 faculty and staff took a retreat is also not shocking. Retreats happen. It is symbolically unfortunate and amplified by being paired with the tuition increase. (I hope the emotional manipulation was unintentional on Ms. Keeping's part.) I don't envy the board at all. They have shrinking resources and increased demand. Making the decision during a $10,000 retreat is a gaff. I'd love to read a more complete report on what was discussed. @Martin Church You appear to be making an assumption. I went to public school in a small town on the Oregon coast in the 70s and 80s and after I graduate from WCC this summer I will have my first college degree. I've read many of your other comments and you have said education starts at home, on that we agree.
townie
Wed, Mar 24, 2010 : 2:42 p.m.
My bad, Marc. I guess that dinner would only have bought 2/3 of an associates degree, or 1-1/3 the amount of your 1 year scholarship. I'd like to see the receipt to find out how much champagne they toasted the tuition increase with.
Martin Church
Wed, Mar 24, 2010 : 2:02 p.m.
I guess that is what I get for a public education and a visit to Henry Ford Museum. Did not have time for formal training what with only 1/2 day classes becuase our school district (taylor 63-76) could not afford the newest in education unlike rich districts like Ann Arbor.
Marc Williams
Wed, Mar 24, 2010 : 12:53 p.m.
@townie I had a one year, $3000 scholarship. I was a full-time student and it barely covered the cost of tuition, fees and books. $4000 would not cover the costs of an Associate's Degree. @Martin Church That quote is from Reason in Common Sense, Volume One of The Life of Reason by George Santayana and it is "Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it."
Martin Church
Wed, Mar 24, 2010 : 11:28 a.m.
And when was the student body supposed to responed to the increase. Let see my wife now has to take money from where to pay for her education. I guess the new health bill is supposed to pay for this. Like I said before, when government votes to take control everything will go up. Inflation here we come. Medicare in the 60's brought us runaway inflation for the seventy's. Has Henry Ford said "Those who fail to learn from history are condemed to repeat it." So here we go again.
Lokalisierung
Wed, Mar 24, 2010 : 11:27 a.m.
Wow...a college is rasing tuition? That never happens or anything.
townie
Wed, Mar 24, 2010 : 11:06 a.m.
The Trustees (and I use the term loosely) spent over $10,000 on this overnight junket to the Book Cadillac, including a $4000 dinner!!! $4000 would probably pay for one student to complete an entire associates degree. When are we going to have some accountability from the public officials in this state? The Trustees and their staff pals ought to immediately disclose the full detailed receipt for this $4000 dinner and then reimburse WCC for this waste. The audacity to turn around and jack up tuition after this waste of precious funds!!
Marc Williams
Wed, Mar 24, 2010 : 10:03 a.m.
I agree with the other comments, this seems like a reasonable increase. (I am a WCC student in a degree program) I do find the choice of the Book Cadillac strange. If they had to sequester themselves off campus there are suitable venues in Washtenaw County. Maybe they should rethink their "long tradition", use facilities they already have, and apply the money saved toward the shortfall.
Smiley
Wed, Mar 24, 2010 : 7:50 a.m.
This is just how the world works. When the government gives with one hand, it must take from somewhere with the other. The only thing to discuss is where the taking comes from. I'm all for efficiency, but if you've ever been in a jury pool or other similar situation where you really witnessed a random slice of society, you will realize that there's is only so much efficiency that is actually possible given what we have to work with. At the end of the day, things cost 100%, so if you increase one thing you have to take from somewhere else to make up the difference.
ladydi
Wed, Mar 24, 2010 : 7:26 a.m.
@Stunhsif you are exactly right! I am graduating from WCC May 22nd and it has been the best educational experience I could have hoped for.
treetowncartel
Wed, Mar 24, 2010 : 6:48 a.m.
It is a good value. I do wonder about using the Book Cadillac though, its a pricey place, and we have a few conference centers in the county that surely could use the business. Although, there are no casinos within walking distance and no Lafayette Coney Island right across the street. The latter would be my reason for choosing Wayne county over Washtenaw.
stunhsif
Tue, Mar 23, 2010 : 8:38 p.m.
As a hard core conservative who has oppossed all rate increases in education anywhere in Washetenaw County ( and rightly so I believe),I am OK with this increase. When my daughter can get a BETTER education at Washtenaw than she can at CMU for less than half the cost I am 100% with it. Great educators at the right price!!!!
dading dont delete me bro
Tue, Mar 23, 2010 : 8:30 p.m.
for real? an increase?