College of Lake County considering tuition and fee increases
College of Lake County is proposing another boost in student tuition and fees starting in the fall semester.
Board members at the Grayslake-based community college had been scheduled to vote on the proposed price increase Tuesday night, but the meeting was postponed because of poor weather. CLC's trustees will address the recommendation when the session is rescheduled.
Under the plan, CLC would enact a $3-per-credit-hour hike for in-district tuition and fees, elevating it to $115 beginning with fall classes. CLC had a $109 credit-hour charge for tuition and fees when the fall semester began in 2011.
CLC board Chairman Richard Anderson said the school has little choice but to increase tuition. He said CLC's revenue stream is expected to take a hit for the next budget year due to an estimated 5 percent reduction in state funding.
“I hate tuition increases, but unfortunately it is a place where we do generate some revenue,” Anderson said.
CLC trustees last year voted 5-2 in favor of hiking the credit-hour tuition and fees from $109 to $112. The extra $3 at that time was attributed to a new capital fee.
Barbara Oilschlager and Lynda Paul were the trustees who voted against the increases in 2012. Oilschlager said the college should start looking to balance the budget through improving operational efficiencies or other means.
“I didn't vote for the tuition increase last time and there's a very strong possibility I won't vote for it this time,” said Oilschlager, who is seeking re-election April 9.
CLC's proposed hike for total tuition and fees is similar to what's been happening at other Illinois community colleges.
Trustees at McHenry County College in Crystal Lake, at a meeting Thursday night, are slated to vote on a recommendation to increase by $3 the total credit-hour charge, which would bring it to $102 in the fall.
The hike is necessary to partially offset a $1.41 million gap projected between expenses and revenue for the next budget year, according to MCC board President Vicky Smith.
Last week, the Glen Ellyn-based College of DuPage board voted for a $4 increase in tuition and fees, going to $140 per credit hour starting in the fall semester. COD administrators who recommended the boost blamed it on a need to cover employee salary raises in the next fiscal year.