Archive for Tuition – Page 2

ARIZONA ATTORNEY GENERAL MAY NOT SUE COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES TO CHALLENGE TUITION INCREASES RELATED TO IN-STATE RESIDENTS

AG may, however, says the Arizona Supreme Court, sue where colleges and universities have granted in-state tuition for students without legal status

Arizona’s Attorney General  sued the Arizona Board of Regents in September 2017, alleging the regents had disregarded  a constitutional provision that requires  state universities to be as close to free as possible. According to the lawsuit, over a 15-year-period  the regents had raised tuition from about $2,600 a year to as much as $12,228 a year for in-state students.

The court rejected this claim saying that if it allowed the Attorney General to proceed with the action, it would “mark a significant expansion in the Attorney General’s power that neither the constitution nor legislature contemplated.”

In a second claim in the lawsuit, the Attorney General had challenged the ability of universities and college to permit  in-state tuition for students without legal status.   In August 2019 the Arizona Board of Regents voted 8-0, with state Superintendent Kathy Hoffman to extend a tuition rate that’s 150% of in-state tuition to undocumented students. The rate was first created by the Regents for students who had legal status in the U.S. under the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program.

In the spring  semester  2019 it was estimated by the University of Arizona that  329 students at Arizona State University paid the 150% rate, called the “Non-Resident Tuition Rate for Arizona High School Graduates.” That rate is about $16,000.

It is   not clear how many students paid  the 150% rate after the change. However,  each year about 2,000 unauthorized immigrants graduate from Arizona high schools, the tenth-most in the U.S., according to a report released in May by the Migration Policy Institute.

The Arizona Supreme Court said the Attorney General did have the authority to bring an action against the universities and colleges if it involved charging  in-state tuition for students without legal status.  The court pointed out that a state statute specifically provided  the attorney general with power to “recover illegally paid public monies.”

In a ruling a year ago, the Arizona Supreme Court ruled against Maricopa Community Colleges on tuition rates for DACA students, saying they did not qualify for in-state tuition. State universities, following the community colleges, were granting in-state tuition to DACA recipients.

An estimated  2,000 or more DACA recipients attended community colleges in Maricopa County, and nearly 300 were enrolled at a state university in Arizona when the ruling was issued. Once the court handed down the decision,  the Maricopa Community Colleges saw a  sharp decline in their DACA enrollments.

Sources:   Maria Polletta, Arizona Republic story published Nov 25, 2020; Rachel Leingang, The Republic | azcentral.com, August 22, 2019.

GOVERNING BOARD VOTES TO NOT INCREASE TUITION IN FISCAL YEAR 2022; COLLEGE SAYS IT ANTICIPATES NOT ASKING FOR COUNTY TAX LEVY INCREASE

Other revenue sources and budget reallocation should offset loss of about $900,000 in tuition because of decreased enrollment and $1.8 million in other new expenses

Yavapai Community College will not  increase student tuition for the 2022  fiscal year.  It also anticipates not asking for a County tax levy increase in the 2022 fiscal year.  This information came from Vice President Clint Ewell at the October Governing Board hearing when the question of tuition  for the 2022 fiscal  year was discussed and voted upon. The Governing Board approved his recommendation that tuition not be increased.   

Dr. Ewell said that the College will receive about  $900,000 in new construction property taxes  in fiscal year 2022 and that amount should offset the loss of tuition revenue caused by a decrease in enrollment.  He said  that the College should be able to identify and  reallocate funds within the existing budget  to make up for an addition $1.8 million in new expenses.  He noted that there was a chance of additional revenue that might help out with the $1.8 million but did not elaborate on the sources of those funds.

In his presentation, Dr. Ewell noted that the fiscal 2022 budget   currently includes a 3% salary/fringe increase for staff costing about $1.28 million.  It also includes $220,000 for market adjustment of salaries.

Note that the final overall budget is usually approved in May 2021 for the fiscal year 2022  following  a public meeting where it is presented.  The Governing Board only voted this October on the tuition recommendation; it did not formally vote on the tax levy.   

You may view a two-minute clip of Vice President Ewell’s budget presentation below.  You may view his entire presentation at the District Governing Board web site by clicking here

ASU DECIDES TO DISTRIBUTE CARES ACT FUNDS TO STUDENTS

ASU Students will  begin to receive from $500 to $6,000 of the $32 million received from federal government as direct student aid; Yavapai began distribution to its students as soon as they became available

Arizona State University announced Friday, July 10 that it will begin to award from $500 to $6,000 of the $32 million it received from the government as direct aid to students.  The funds came from the CARES Act.

ASU’s announcement comes nearly two months after the state’s other large universities began CARES Act fund distribution. All had paid out some of the CARES Act funding to their spring semester students. 

Yavapai Community College began distributing funds under the CARES Act to assist students as soon as the funds became available in the spring. (See Blog posting of May 14.)

Source:  Arizona Republic, July 11, 2020  story by Grace Oldham and Rachel Leingang.

 

MARICOPA GOVERNING BOARD REJECTS REDUCING TUITION BY 25%; WILL INVEST UP TO $13.5 MILLION IN SCHOLARSHIPS AND $500,000 IN FALL AND SPRING MARKETING CAMPAIGN

Sets tuition at a flat rate of $1020 for Arizona’s residents taking 12 credits or more per semester

The Maricopa Community College Governing Board at its  meeting on Tuesday, June 9  rejected a proposal that would have reduced tuition for the fall and spring semesters by 25%. Rather, it approved a flat tuition rate of $1020 for Arizona residents taking 12 credits or more per semester. In addition, it approved allowing out-of-state students to pay the in-state tuition rate if they sign up to take six or fewer credit hours per semester.

The Board also approved spending up to $13.5 million in scholarships to attract students.  Finally, it agreed to commit  up to $500,000 to run a marketing campaign to try to encourage more  students to enroll for the fall  and spring  semesters.

CAMP VERDE BUGLE STORY FEATURES YAVAPAI-VERDE STUDENT CELEENA JOHNSON

Named as a  2020 Gold Scholar to  the Coca-Cola Academic Team

A story appearing in the April 21 Camp Verde Bugle written by reporter Bill Helm featured Celeena Johnson.  She is a student at Yavapai Community College who was named as a 2020 Gold Scholar for the Coca-Cola Academic Team. (Also see Blog story of Sunday, April 19.)

Earlier this year, Yavapai Community College announced that  Ms. Johnson was among 12 students who had earned lucrative All-Arizona Academic Team scholarships. On April 15 it announced that  that  three of the 12 were also named to the 2020 Coca-Cola Academic Team. Ms. Johnson was one of the three. She was selected from a pool of more than  2,000 other students for this award. 

Ms. Johnson is a  2018 graduate of Camp Verde High School.  She told Mr. Helm that she “plans to attend Northern Arizona University in the fall.”  She also told him that  the recent recognition means an extra $1,500 that she can spend for “extra academic fees such as textbooks and travel costs.”  Her tuition was  already paid for when she was initially selected as member of the All-USA Academic Team.

She is an “aspiring first-grade teacher and library program coordinator.”  By the time  she  graduated from Camp Verde High School, she had accumulated  36 college credits and a culinary arts certificate. She told Helm that she plans to graduate from Yavapai Community College this spring with an Associate’s degree.

SEDONA RED ROCK HIGH SCHOOL SELECTS TEN NINTH GRADERS TO COMPLETE FIRST TWO YEARS OF CREDIT AT YAVAPAI COMMUNITY COLLEGE BY HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION DATE

Students carefully evaluated, along with their past grades, before deemed ready to simultaneously handle the responsibilities of college and high school

A must read is Sedona Red Rock newspaper reporter Alexandra Wittenberg’s February 14 story about ten Sedona Red Rock High School ninth graders already starting Yavapai Community College.  She describes a new Early College Program launched January 6 at the high school that will allow 10 students to complete all 34 credits from Yavapai College needed to obtain an Associate’s degree. They will accomplish this while obtaining enough high school credits for high school graduation. 

The first ten in the program were carefully evaluated, along with their past grades, before they were deemed ready to handle the responsibilities of college classes as well as their high school ones.

The program is attractive for a number of reasons, one of which is cost.  Because of its partnership with Yavapai Community College, “ the school district pays for the majority of the tuition, with the high schooler’s family only having to pay for books and student’s fees. However, if the student doesn’t finish the program, then the family is responsible for paying the school district back.”

To read in full Alexandra Wittenberg’s February 14 story in the Red Rock Newspaper please click here.

MESA COMMUNITY COLLEGE FOLLOWS YAVAPAI COMMUNITY COLLEGE IN OFFERING FREE TUITION

Any costs incurred by the Community College for the new program will be paid for by the City, businesses and education community; Yavapai launched its tuition-free program in fall 2019

Mesa Mayor John Giles announced Tuesday, February 4, the decision to provide free tuition for eligible Mesa Community College students beginning fall 2020. According to Giles, the city of Mesa has been studying the issue for the past year and received recommendations the end of January for starting the Mesa College Promise campaign.

“The Mesa College Promise means free tuition at community college for eligible students graduating from local high schools,” Giles said during his State of the City address.

Under the direction of Dr. Lisa Rhine, Yavapai Community College has already launched an experimental program somewhat similar to the Mesa effort. In the fall 2019 more than 300 new students enrolled in the program at Yavapai.

It does not apply to students seeking certificates. And there are specific requirements. For example, the Yavapai program is restricted to County residents and they must complete their degree within seven semesters after graduation from high school.

The program provides eligible students a last dollar scholarship, meaning it will cover tuition not otherwise covered by Federal, State, Yavapai College, or other 3rd party (for example, high school, Yavapai College Foundation, Tribe, employer) grants, discounts, or scholarships. However, the program will reimburse no more than 61 credits of the tuition paid by a student.

When an eligible student completes his or her coursework after seven semesters of high school or GED graduation, any tuition that was paid out-of-pocket for tuition will be reimbursed. The program is strictly limited to tuition. It does not reimburse other related expenses including, but not limited to, books, course and program fees, or other cost of living expenses such as transportation, food, and housing.

DR. DIANE RYAN PROVIDES GOVERNING BOARD GLIMPSE INTO FREE TEXTBOOK PROGRAM DEVELOPING AT YAVAPAI

Faculty begin training in use of Open Educational Resources in February; anticipates some classes in fall 2020 using materials

Dr. Diane Ryan, Vice President of Strategic Initiatives,  explained to the Governing Board how she is developing the free textbook program at Yavapai Community College during the Board’s January retreat.  Faculty at the Community College will begin training on how to use Open Educational Resources (OER) material in February.  She told the Board that she anticipates that there will be some classes operating with free textbooks by the fall 2020.

The Open Educational Resources project is a part of President Dr. Lisa Rhine’s effort to make post-secondary education available to everyone in the County at the lowest possible cost. It is estimated the OER program will take three or four years to fully implement at Yavapai Community College.

You may view a portion of Dr. Ryan’s presentation to the Governing Board at the retreat below.

SENIOR CITIZEN DISCOUNT ON CREDIT CLASSES ENDS JANUARY 17

Must be citizen, County resident, and over 65 

Yavapai Community College is offering a 25% discount on credit classes to residents age 65+. An applicant must meet all of the eligibility requirements and register for ALL classes between January 6-17, 2020.

The Community College says that “to be guaranteed a spot in the class you want, register early. If you want to take advantage of the 25% discount, register the week before classes as space allows.”

For more information and to learn about additional restrictions,  please go to the Community College web site by clicking here.

CONNECTICUT COMMUNITY COLLEGES TO OFFER FREE TUITION AND FEES

Starts next fall; Yavapai Community College experimenting with somewhat similar program

It was announced December 20, 2019 that incoming students will pay no tuition or fees at Connecticut community colleges starting next fall under a plan approved by the Connecticut State Colleges and Universities Board of Regents.  The Pledge to Advance Connecticut (PACT), is in response to legislation passed last spring. It  guarantees that eligible in-state, full-time, first-time students at the 12 campuses will not pay out-of-pocket for tuition or mandatory fees.

PACT has  four goals: (1) Mitigate excess debt for students and families, d(2) Iincrease student enrollment within the community college sector, (3) Support student retention efforts,  and (4) support on-time credential completion.

Although neither as broad nor supported by Arizona legislation funding the effort, Yavapai Community College,  under the direction of Dr. Lisa Rhine,  has launched an experimental program somewhat similar to the Connecticut effort. Click here for details. https://www.yc.edu/v6/promise/about.html

In the fall 2019  more than  300 new students enrolled in  the program. It does not apply to students seeking certificates.  And there are specific requirements.  For example, the Yavapai  program is restricted to County residents and they must complete their degree within seven semesters after graduation from high school. 

The program provides eligible students a last dollar scholarship, meaning it will cover tuition not otherwise covered by Federal, State, Yavapai College, or other 3rd party (for example,  high school, Yavapai College Foundation, Tribe, employer) grants, discounts, or scholarships. However, the program will reimburse no more than 61 credits of the tuition paid by a student.

When an eligible student completes his or her coursework after seven semesters of high school or GED graduation, any tuition that was paid out-of-pocket for tuition will be reimbursed. The program is strictly limited to tuition. It does not reimburse other related expenses including, but not limited to, books, course and program fees, or other cost of living expenses such as transportation, food, and housing.

The courses taken by the student must have been paid for by the student or the student’s family, not any other source. Courses must have been taken from Yavapai College (reimbursement does not apply for transfer credits) after high school graduation or GED completion.  There is no reimbursements for repeated courses or for Developmental Education credits. Aerospace Science majors and courses are not eligible (including Fixed Wing, Rotor, Unmanned, and Air Traffic).

Students are responsible to pay all their expenses up front (tuition and fees, books, cost of living). As already noted, it does not apply to certificate seeking students.

It is not clear what the final cost to the Community College will be for this program. It may be minimal because most students are eligible for Pell grants, which already pay for tuition.  However, the College won’t know the full impact on  its budget until two years from now when the first crop of “Promise” students graduate.