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Raise is college's first in six years

Friday, June 14, 2002

By M. Ferguson Tinsley, Post-Gazette Staff Writer

For the first time in six years, Community College of Allegheny County students will see an increase on their tuition bills come fall.

The CCAC board of trustees yesterday approved a 5 percent increase that tacks on $3.50 per academic credit, taking tuition from $68 to $71.50 a credit hour.

Consequently, tuition for a full load of classes -- 12 credit hours -- will rise from $816 to $858 per semester.

Joe Hester, vice president for administrative services, said the increase was necessary because other funding sources are tapped out.

"It happened this year because our costs are continuing to increase while the state can't increase its weight of support nor could the county increase its share," he said.

Hester said the state currently provides $1,500 per full-time student, $100 more than for the 2000-01 academic year. The same level is budgeted for next year, he said.

CCAC had 13,350 full-time students last year. Full-time students must take at least 24 credit hours per year.

Hester said services and employee costs are constantly rising, but the main reason the increase was necessary is an expected jump in liability insurance.

"The cost of liability insurance is going to go up 50 [percent] to 100 percent next year due to the 9/11 issues," he said.

"Carriers say their costs are going up because of their payout and having to buy insurance from other carriers [to cover their losses]. It's like hedging bets in a poker game."

Although CCAC enrollment rose 15 percent in the last two years, from 39,800 full- and part-time students to 45,750, yesterday's modest hike is not likely to cause a wave of dropouts, he said.

"Any cost increase has an effect, but students that are the most needy do have financial assistance available," Hester said.

Last year, the school doled out $8 million in grants, $7 million in loans and $1.4 million in miscellaneous state funds. Out of the 6,800 students who received aid, 2,900 got full grants.

In other action, the board approved a $77.3 million operating budget for the next school year, along with $8.8 million to service debts, lease facilities and rent equipment.