2008 Woodie Awards
Tuition up again; this time $2 per credit
Leone lone vote against increase as students present 1,000 signatures against board action
By Suzanne Penna
in NewsIssue date: 4/3/08 Section: News
The state budget cuts hurt all, especially community-college students, at least that is the sentiment voiced by the Board of Trustees at its Mar. 24 meeting.
Sara Winchester, OCC's vice president of finance, said, "Funding from the state is down 14 percent. Absorbing this kind of decrease means we need to move away from our plan of deferred maintenance and capital projects."
Winchester introduced a proposed tuition increase of $2 and said, "We looked across the state to see how other community colleges are bridging the gap. We see the same sized increases in tuition at other community colleges."
Jon Larson, president, said "We have made a sincere effort without compromising the quality of our education. (This is) the right thing to do to maintain the standards. We are morally obligated to increase tuition."
Truatee Jerry Dasti said, "I have confidence Sara has taken the cuts we have given her the direction to."
Harry Levin, another trustee, said, "Students need to be aware of financial aid. I am not aware of any student in economic need being turned away. We are just trying to break even. Everything is more expensive today, and I don't think tuition should be excluded from that."
"The facts of the matter are it (the increase) is necessary," a representative on the board, said.
Trustee Stephan Leone was the lone dissenter. He said that while the cuts will be painful, they need to be done, and he is willing to accept the pain.
After the trustees and the president spoke, the floor was opened to the public. Martha Molinini, an engineering student, was the first to speak. She first offered the board a stack of petitions she said had been signed by nearly 1,000 students in a four-hour period. Then Molinini ssaid, "I've heard all the rhetoric before; there ARE all kinds of ways to make cuts. You've done it, not the state.
"The purpose of the community college is to provide affordable education. Do not take this away." Molinini said, ending with a plea to the board not to act in a group mentality and vote for the increase just because everyone else is voting for it.
Sara Winchester, OCC's vice president of finance, said, "Funding from the state is down 14 percent. Absorbing this kind of decrease means we need to move away from our plan of deferred maintenance and capital projects."
Winchester introduced a proposed tuition increase of $2 and said, "We looked across the state to see how other community colleges are bridging the gap. We see the same sized increases in tuition at other community colleges."
Jon Larson, president, said "We have made a sincere effort without compromising the quality of our education. (This is) the right thing to do to maintain the standards. We are morally obligated to increase tuition."
Truatee Jerry Dasti said, "I have confidence Sara has taken the cuts we have given her the direction to."
Harry Levin, another trustee, said, "Students need to be aware of financial aid. I am not aware of any student in economic need being turned away. We are just trying to break even. Everything is more expensive today, and I don't think tuition should be excluded from that."
"The facts of the matter are it (the increase) is necessary," a representative on the board, said.
Trustee Stephan Leone was the lone dissenter. He said that while the cuts will be painful, they need to be done, and he is willing to accept the pain.
After the trustees and the president spoke, the floor was opened to the public. Martha Molinini, an engineering student, was the first to speak. She first offered the board a stack of petitions she said had been signed by nearly 1,000 students in a four-hour period. Then Molinini ssaid, "I've heard all the rhetoric before; there ARE all kinds of ways to make cuts. You've done it, not the state.
"The purpose of the community college is to provide affordable education. Do not take this away." Molinini said, ending with a plea to the board not to act in a group mentality and vote for the increase just because everyone else is voting for it.
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