Contact: Chris Chesrown
Media Relations Manager
480-731-8503

For Immediate Release

TUITION – FEE SCHEDULE TO BE CONSIDERED BY GOVERNING BOARD

March 1, 2002 – Meeting the educational needs of a growing student population at the ten Maricopa Community Colleges will require adding faculty and other student-related expenditures during fiscal year 2002-2003. It’s estimated that 25 additional faculty will be hired and dozens of classes will be added to accommodate the 5.7% enrollment growth. The cost associated with that growth is about 5 million dollars.

“We want to make sure we continue to offer quality and accessible education to the residents of Maricopa County,” according to Dr. Rufus Glasper, Vice Chancellor for Business Services. “It’s important that the Maricopa Community Colleges offer educational value.” Yet inflation, business cost increases, increased maintenance, upgrades to information technology systems, additional operating costs, teacher recruitment programs and compensation, along with rising insurance costs are other issues that factor into developing a viable budget and a fair tuition and fee schedule. Although state funding is a small portion of the community college budget, it’s unclear how much those funds will be cut as the legislature works to resolve its fiscal shortfall.

To meet the growing demands, the Governing Board is reviewing a proposal to increase tuition and fees by 3 dollars per credit hour, from $43 to $46. The proposal would increase tuition for full-time students taking 30 credit hours per year by $90, for a total annual tuition cost of $1,380.

Nationwide, the average cost to attend a community college is about one-tenth the usual tuition and fees paid at independent four-year institutions, according to a special education report produced by WMUR-TV in New Hampshire. Additionally, the not-for-profit College Board reports that household income increases by educational attainment. Many local professionals take advantage of coursework at the Maricopa Community Colleges that will advance their careers at a reasonable cost, and some businesses will even pay for it.

Action on the tuition-fee proposal is expected to be taken at the Board’s March 26th meeting, which is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. at 2411 W. 14th Street in Tempe. The Board’s recommendation will then be sent to the State Board of Directors for action scheduled on April 19, 2002. Board members can be contacted at 480-731-8889.

The Maricopa County Community College District is one of the largest community college districts in the nation. It includes 10 colleges – Chandler-Gilbert Community College, Estrella Mountain Community College, GateWay Community College, Glendale Community College, Mesa Community College, Paradise Valley Community College, Phoenix College, Rio Salado College, Scottsdale Community College and South Mountain Community College. The District also includes the Maricopa Skill Center, Southwest Skill Center, several satellite campuses and business/industry, technical and customized training institutes and serves more than 277,000 students annually. For more information: 480-731-8000 or www.maricopa.edu

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March 13, 2002