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About The Clackamas print. (Oregon City, Oregon) 1989-2019 | View Entire Issue (Feb. 18, 2009)
Clackamas Print 2 . Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2009 Nev TUITION: cost chokes pocket Continued from TUITION, Page 1 ing for students, who may have trouble with the sudden rise in With a massive percentage costs. But, there are no promises of the school’s yearly budget to students who will not be able in peril, the administration and to afford school. Clackamas’'tuition costs will staff have been working over time to fill the deficit. Earlier stay in the middle of the pack this year, departments with bal for Oregon community colleg ances in their fee fund accounts es. However, there is word that other community were asked to give colleges will, also half towards the raise their costs to college’s general “The tuition cover any short fund. The college falls they receive collected $361,473 increase is in funding. from those funds. substantial “What we are There have also and it will trying to do is been other measures make sure that if instituted to save affect stu -someone is having money. Faculty and dents, but it’s difficulty (with the staff positions cam increase), get to pus wide have been only one piece financial aid,” said held open, food ser of the puzzle.” President Joanne vices at meetings Truesdell. “There has been reduced, is still a commit Carlotta Collette out-of-state travel ment to help every restricted and part- Board of Education body.” time employee use member In the last ten has been drasti years Clackamas’ cally decreased. However, the col tuition has lege still foresees an $800,000 increased from gap in the budget. $36 per credit in 1999-2000 to Tuition makes up about 21 $62 for summer 2008-2009. Yet, percent of the general fund’s enrollment has stayed fairly even revenue. With the $5 per credit over the years. Full-time equiva increase, the college would gain lency enrollment has increased about $250,000 in spring term 9.8 percent in those years. This alone, around 15 percent of the year’s enrollment is.up drasti problem. cally with an increase in unem For students attending full- ployment state wide. time, around 12 credits, the “I think a lot of people can’t increase would be $60 total. get jobs, so they are coming There was no recommended back to school,” said 40-year- increase in the general student old Karen Hughes. “When the fee. The financial aid department economy gets tough, people look has prepared for the increase, for other ways to survive. This continuing need based tuition tuition increase will have a hard waivers, repackaging of finan effect on people who are already cial aid, and alternative fund having a hard enough time mak ing it month to month.” This is the second increase of this school year, and there will be more to come. Students will be asked to help balance the bud get more in the months to come. Another increase of $5 is on the table starting this summer. That would put Clackamas’ tuition at $72 a credit. Chemeketa and Linn-Benton Community • Colleges have already announced projected tuition increases of $ 14 to $18 per credit. Students are welcome to share their comments and ideas about the increase between now and March 11, when the Board of Education will make a decision on the next increase. Associated Student Government will be holding three breakout sessions with President Truesdell to dis cuss the budget issues with stu dents. The first will be held Wednesday, Feb. 18, from 2-3 p.m. in CC127. The second and third will be Tuesday, Feb. 24, from 2-3 p.m.-and 5-6 p.m. in Fireside Lounge. TRUESDELL Tuition costs per credit from 1999 to 2009 $70 Tuition cost perd $60 Note: The average class from three to four credits As an example a Writing 124 class is four credits! $50 $40 $30 $20 $10 $0 BUDGET: college faces $11.3 million shortfall for 2009- Continued from BUDGET, Page 1 More than 86 percent of the general fund goes to personal services, or “people money” according to Wilton. “People money” refers to wages and benefits. With such a shortfall, sacrifices will be made in staff and faculty. The full-time faculty was asked Tuesday, Feb. 17, to forego their cost of living increase that was promised General Fund Revenue State Appropriations 45% The Clackamas Print The Clackamas Print 19600 Molalla Ave. Oregon City, OR 97045 503-657-6958, ext. 2309 Editor in Chief: Lydia Emily Bashaw Copy Editor: Matt Ostergren Web and Design Editor: Kayhi Berge News Editor: John Hurlburt A&C Editor: Tess Sheppard Feature Editor: Nick Komafel Sports Editor: Sam Krause \ Photo Editor: Tohn Shufelt Photo Associate: Robert Crawford in their 3-year contract. The increase is at least 3.5 percent for every person. There are 153 faculty positions at Clackamas and this motion would save the college $920,0.00 over the two- year period. A faculty member on the bottom of the pay scale would lose around $1,675 a year of ljis $47,882 salary. The decision will be made via a vote by the faculty. The bal lots are due on Wednesday, Feb. 18. At “Pizza with the President,” held by Associated Student Government on Monday, Feb. 16, Truesdell shared the college’s focus when making changes for the college community. She said the core of Clackamas’ mis sion was to provide lower division collegiate classes that prepared individuals to con tinue towards a baccalaureate degree; The mission also pro vides career technology edu cation to train people for the high-wage jobs of the future, as well as skills development for those who wish to finish their basic education. Work ommended budget will force development is also pro pared by March 20. vided in the mission to help Students and staff those who wish to retrain, after the hardest hit when tl losing jobs or to continue in sions come in later th their field with updated knowl Questions regarding wl edge. These fundamentals are be cut overall have in what guide the college in their answered yet, by the a decision making process. tration, though suggest In December, college admin cut full programs and istration asked the staff and have been made. faculty to start sharing ideas “There is some type a on how to increase revenue and balance between howu decrease expenditures. There the problem gets solve are more than 150 proposals in revenue and how much the Feb. 9 draft of the Revenue through cost,” said Will and Cost Saving Suggestion When asked « list. Some ideas like increas -Clackamas would be di ing class seat loads and con in the fall, Truesdell sai serving energy are already in won’t fundamentally ft place. More outlandish ideas ferent. We can’t take th include opening a sports bar of cut and not be differ! on campus to bring in money Truesdell is set to hi or starting a farmer’s market budget recommendation! using products grown in the by April 3. Campus-wi< cussion is occurring ab horticulture center. Truesdell said that the the options. “It’s true that we I list would be thinned down in the next month, with a offer what we offer,I more detailed idea of where offer it,” said Truesdell; Clackamas is choosing to g». would require $11 s The administrative staff’s rec- more.” x A d M anager : Meredith James P roduction A ssistants : Kelsey Schneider, Ron Strong, S taff W riters / P hotographers : Sean Huggins and Douglas Jake Whitten, Kayla Calloway, Muralha Jessica Foster, Michelle Sanchez, Jordan Householder, J ournalism A dviser : Abby Neet, Megan Shaw, Melissa Jones Larissa Figley and Matt Garrison D epartment S ecretary : Pat Thompson G oals : The Clackamas Print aims to report the news in an honest unbiased, professional manner. The opinions expressed do not - necessarily reflect those of the student body, college adminis tration, its faculty or The Print E-mail comments to chiefed«® dackamas.edu.
