CLC approves higher tuition and fees
College of Lake County board members have approved a tuition and fee increase for the next academic season.
With the combination of higher tuition and fees approved by a 4-2 vote Tuesday night, CLC students will pay $135 per credit hour starting in the fall semester, a 4.6 percent increase from $129.
Board members agreed to review in December whether a proposed tuition and fee hike of 4.4 percent, to $141 from $135 per credit hour, should be enacted in 2017-18.
CLC President Jerry Weber said officials would have preferred to not raise the tuition and fees. Similar to other community colleges, CLC has not received expected payments from the state since July because of a budget stalemate in Springfield.
"Now we still have a big hole on the budget, even with the $6 (increase) this year," Weber said. "As we talked about in the finance committee, we still almost have a $3 million hole to fill."
Weber added that a full $6 tuition and fee increase may not be necessary for the 2017-18 academic season if promised state money arrives.
After holding the line on tuition and fee hikes, the CLC board approved increases for 2014-15 and 2015-16. Compared to the $112 per-credit-hour charge for tuition and fees in 2013-14, the tab will be up by 20 percent in 2016-17.
Grayslake-based CLC isn't alone in raising tuition and accompanying fees for 2016-17. Palatine-based Harper College did it last week and others across the suburbs are expected to follow.
Board members Barbara Oilschlager and Lynda Paul objected to boosting the tuition and fees starting in the fall semester for 2016-17.
"I know we're trying to cut costs," Oilschlager said. "Maybe we can do a better job there as well."
Citing a need to cover investments in synchronous technologies, staffing and professional development for instructors, students will have to start paying for online learning in 2016-17.
Board members agreed to establish a $5-per-credit-hour online course fee, Officials said an average student who takes three online courses will pay $15.
Projections show CLC will receive $120,000 from the new online course fee in 2016-17. The fee will escalate to $8 in 2017-18.
In addition, officials agreed there remains a need to offset equipment and facility replacement costs in the James Lumber Center for the Performing Arts. That means a $2 facility fee will remain on each ticket sold for events at the venue.