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
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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
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Melissa Jones
Larissa Figley and Matt
Garrison
D epartment S ecretary :
Pat Thompson
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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
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