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Paris Junior College approves tuition increase

By Scott Harvey

Paris – The Paris Junior College Board of Regents has approved a tuition hike to address budget cuts by the state.

In the process, Regents achieved their goal of keeping tuition below the state community college average.

They passed a $5 hike per credit hour for in- and out-of district tuition and a $9 per credit hour increase for out-of-state, nonresident tuition. New rates for in-district for the 2011-2012 school year will run $44 per semester credit hour, out-of-district tuition will be $75 per semester credit hour, and non-resident will be $120 per semester per credit hour.

In a recent survey of expected tuition increases from community colleges around the state, most indicated they were increasing tuition by $10 per credit hour.

"With this increase PJC will still be under the current state average," PJC President Dr. Pam Anglin reported, "even before the other community colleges increase their tuition. So we're still very competitive."

The State allows schools to charge differential tuition for high cost programs and the Regents approved an additional tuition increase of $75 per credit hour per semester for jewelry; horology; licensed vocational nursing; radiology; surgical technology; emergency medical services; and associate degree nursing.

"We're still not breaking even on those programs but we cut our loss by about half and in two to three years could be breaking even," said Dr. Anglin. She also reported the school is waiting lists for most of these programs.

An existing $30 fee for internet courses was added to academic courses that use the internet as part of the course requirements and to all hybrid courses. Private music instruction will go up $10 per credit hour, as approved by Regents. Finally, course fees in vocational/technical courses were increased to cover the college's costs for licensing tests, drug screens, background checks and equipment kits.

Responding to a question, Dr. Anglin said, "Right now, we're looking at $1.8 million in cuts. These increases add up to $1.3 million and that, plus personnel cuts discussed at the last meeting, would bring us to break-even."