Administrators at Carroll Community College are seeking a tuition increase for the 2003-2004 school year.
The increased costs that accompany expanding programs, and an enrollment that is increasing while state subsidies are declining, are the reasons behind the request for a tuition increase of $3 per credit hour, school officials said yesterday.
That increase would raise tuition to $82 per credit hour. The increase would amount to about $50 a semester for a typical full-time student, bringing tuition for about 14 credit hours to about $1,150 a semester, college officials said.
Officials said that federal financial aid will cover the increase for students who receive such assistance.
School administrators were to submit their request to the college's board of trustees at a meeting last night. The request is part of a proposed $15.6 million budget for the next fiscal year.
School officials said the tuition increase would generate $171,000. They say the money is needed to help counter reductions in state aid.
Like the other schools in the state's community college system, Carroll and its administrators were sorely disappointed when the governor announced in January a $15 million cut in money designated for these schools.
This year, the college received $4.9 million from the state, but that was more than $800,000 short of the amount they were expecting. The school cut this year's budget by about $700,000.
Though the school stands to gain nearly $160,000 more from the state next year, it's not enough to keep up with rising expenses, said Alan Schuman, Carroll's executive vice president of administration.
"There's more pressure to raise tuition," he said. "The tuition rate is the only variable we have any influence over."
Of the state's 16 community colleges, Carroll ranks fifth-highest in its tuition behind Prince George's, Montgomery, Charles and Howard counties.
The total number of students taking credit courses at the college is 2,765. Last year, the head count was about 2,500.
Part-time students - who make up 55 percent of the student body - take an average course load of 5.3 credit hours a semester. They will pay about $18 more, or tuition of $500 a semester. Tuition for out-of-county students, $128 per credit hour, and out-of-state students, $195 per credit, would remain unchanged.
If approved by the seven-member board next month, it would be the ninth year in a row that the college has raised its tuition.
In March, the college's board approved a proposal to increase tuition from $75 to $79 a credit for the current school year. That increase is to generate about $228,000 for the school. It was approved by the board in March.
Tuition has risen 3 percent to 6 percent a year since 1996, when it was $53 per credit hour.
Schuman offered reasons for the rising enrollment: Carroll's programs, its relatively low cost (compared with four-year schools) and the competition to get into the state college system that sends some students searching for alternatives.
CCC administrators also are asking for $1.1 million more than last year to pay for increased expenses.
Most of the money would pay for part-time faculty to handle the influx of new students and for programs and staff for its Nursing and Allied Health program, which is designed to address the critical shortage of nurses in the state.
More than 2,000 registered nurse positions remain unfilled in Maryland hospitals, according to a recent survey by the Maryland Hospital Association. Vacancy rates have increased for the past three years.
"The college and county government made a commitment to build the Nursing and Allied Health building and grow programs that will be supported by this facility," Schuman said. "It's a significant work-force shortage in Carroll County and the entire state."
Carroll is asking for about $300,000 to hire nurses, support staff and part-time help for the program, which is also bolstering its curriculum in anticipation of more students. That influx is expected because the college is due to break ground early next year on a 27,000-square-foot Nursing and Allied Health building.
School administrators also are requesting about $170,000 to hire more part-time faculty campuswide.