Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, April 6, 1990 TAG: 9004060493
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: B1 EDITION: STATE
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: RICHMOND LENGTH: Medium
The Virginia Community College System Board approved a 3.9 percent tuition increase, the first in five years, and agreed to add a 7.6 percent temporary surcharge to make up for state funding cuts.
For a full-time student taking 15 credit hours, the annual cost will go up nearly $100, from $798 to $894.
"It's still the best buy in Virginia education today," said L. Jack Hite, a board member who heads the budget and finance committee.
"I think we've done as good as can be done," said Lawrence H. Framme III, the board chairman. "The possibility always exists that requests may come down to tighten even further."
The surcharge was imposed to cover half of a 5 percent budget cut ordered for the community college system and other state agencies over the next two years.
The community colleges, which must cut $9.4 million a year, would need approval from Gov. Douglas Wilder before increasing the surcharge.
"The governor would be very, very reluctant to approve a request for the second half," said Billy J. Kittrell, vice chancellor for administrative and fiscal affairs.
On Monday, Wilder told college presidents that he was concerned about recent tuition increases at several universities. If schools don't cut costs, they could become too expensive for many Virginia families, he said.
About 210,000 students use the community college system each year, the equivalent of 69,500 full-time students. The 1,450 full-time students from outside Virginia pay tuition five times higher than the state rate.
Jeff Hockaday, the system's chancellor, said he has projected enrollment to remain steady next year even though tuition increases usually lead to a decline in students at the two-year schools.
by CNB