Schools

MCC Raises Tuition 5%, Fills Board Vacancy

The community college, with campuses in Clinton Township and Warren, is raising tuition due to a decrease in property tax revenues, among other reasons.

The Macomb Community College Board of Trustees increased tuition during a regularly scheduled meeting this month, according to the college.

The board approved a 5 percent tuition hike for the 2011-12 school year, raising the credit hour rate for residents $4 to $84, $128 for nonresidents and $167 for foreign and out-of-state students, school officials stated in a news release Wednesday night.

The college previously leveraged bond money to reduce a projected $ 9-12 million budget shortfall. Among reasons given for the deficit were a $13.2-million decline in property tax revenue over the past three years, increased costs for the Michigan Public School Employees’ Retirement System and expected state budget cuts.

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“Keeping Macomb’s tuition affordable is important to our students who rely on our value as well as local access to educational programs of quality and relevance," said Jim Jacobs, president of Macomb Community College. "Manageable tuition is also a key factor in supporting and encouraging community members to turn to education to position themselves for sustainable employment in the 21st century economy.

“We have carefully considered all options, employing a number of avenues to deal with the shortfall to keep the necessary increase in tuition to a modest level.”

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With the rate effective in fall, MCC says its tuition remains nearly 12 percent below the state average.

The college board also appointed Eastpointe resident Charley Jackson Jr., a contracting specialist for the Army Contracting Command in Warren and law school student, to a seat left open by Trustee Frank DeSantis' resignation.

For more information on the college, visit www.macomb.edu.


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