Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: FRIDAY, April 5, 1991                   TAG: 9104050441
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: B3   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: RICHMOND                                LENGTH: Short

COMMUNITY COLLEGES RAISE TUITION

The state Board of Community Colleges blamed the action on the state's budget shortfall and subsequent cuts in state aid to the two-year schools.

"I regret that we had to do it, because I think it will affect" low-income students, said board member Stephen J. Wright of Hampton.

"We were between the devil and the deep blue sea no matter what we did. We had to take the lesser of two evils."

Board Chairman William D. Dolan III said that without the increase the state's 23 community colleges would be forced to lay off faculty members, close courses and eliminate programs that have high teacher-student ratios - such as nursing and dental hygiene programs.

The increase will mean tuition will rise from $29.80 to $35 per credit hour. A full-time students taking 15 credit hours will pay $525 per quarter, up from $447.

"Things in the community college system are very bad," Dolan said. "We are deteriorating, and we're trying to stop that process."

Even with the increase, the system will lose $14.7 million in revenue next year, said Joy Graham, assistant chancellor for public affairs.

"All we hope to do is put a finger in the dike," Graham said. "We're not going to be recovered by a long shot."

The board also voted unanimously to lower tuition for students from out of state from $148 to $142 per credit hour. Graham said the decrease was necessary because the out-of-state tuition is disproportionately high.