Community Colleges Set Tuition for 2011-2012 Academic Year
The Board of Trustees of the Community College System of NH (CCSNH) set tuition for the 2011-2012 academic year at $210 per credit for in-state students. This is an increase of 7.7% over the 2010-11 rate of $195 per credit. The change will add approximately $225 per semester to the in-state tuition costs for a full-time student, bringing the tuition costs for full-time attendance to approximately $6,300 per year.
This announcement follows the largest reduction in state funding for the community colleges in the System's history, a 20% reduction from the current level. General operating support for the college system will drop from an FY2011 level of $37.5 million to an FY2012 level of $29.6 million. At the same time, the colleges are serving greater numbers of students. 2010-11 saw the highest enrollment in the System's history, and CCSNH predicts another year meeting increased demand.
The Community College System serves more than 27,000 learners annually, 95% of whom are NH residents. Associate degree and certificate programs prepare students for skilled employment and for transfer to four-year colleges and universities.
"We do not take this step lightly, and are painfully aware of the hardship this will cause to New Hampshire's community college students and those who intend to pursue a college education and career training," said CCSNH Board Chairman Paul Holloway. "We have had very difficult discussions as we followed the State budget process and understood the magnitude of the reductions in state funding."
"We will not compromise the quality of our programs, which prepare New Hampshire people for skilled employment here in the state," Holloway said.
Looking forward, Holloway noted, "In the upcoming months we plan to work with lawmakers to regain some financial support for the community colleges if State revenues materialize, so we can keep these institutions affordable for NH residents."
"The tuition increase alone will not be enough to meet the budget shortfall," Holloway continued. "Significant reductions in expenditures are also occurring at each of the community colleges in response to the cuts in state funding."Coupled with the increase in tuition, CCSNH will meet the challenging budget shortfall by reducing expenditures in all areas, including reductions in personnel costs which are the largest component of the colleges' budgets. CCSNH plans to keep many positions vacant, restructure workload assignments, and make modest and targeted reductions in force. The colleges expect a higher rate of retirement as a result of legislative changes to the NH Retirement System, and CCSNH is engaged in collective bargaining discussions to achieve modifications in benefit programs to achieve sustainable benefits and control costs.
"New Hampshire's community colleges provide access and opportunity for residents of the state to improve their lives and become contributors to New Hampshire's economic strength, and this funding shortfall will certainly place stresses on college offerings and operations," said CCSNH Chancellor Richard Gustafson.
"Each of the community colleges will make the adjustments that will position them to serve their students and regions most effectively with diminished resources. We remain committed to providing quality programs, instruction and facilities for our students and a positive environment for our employees. Even with this increase, the community colleges remain an excellent choice and a wise investment for NH residents," Gustafson said.
The Community College System of NH consists of seven colleges, offering associate degree and certificate programs, professional training, and transfer pathways to four-year degrees. The system's colleges are Great Bay Community College in Portsmouth; Lakes Region Community College in Laconia; Manchester Community College; Nashua Community College; NHTI Concord's Community College; River Valley Community College in Claremont and Keene; and White Mountains Community College in Berlin.
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