3/14/2010 6:00:00 AM
MCC OKs new fee structure
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KINGMAN - The governing board of Mohave Community College on Friday approved a change to its structure for student technology fees.
In a 5-0 vote, board members agreed to change the student technology fee from a flat fee of $50 per student per semester to a rate of $6 per credit hour. According to the college's vice president of Administration, Lynn Cundiff, the move should make the fees more equitable for the large number of students who only take a limited number of classes.
"We think this helps our part-time students, which we have a significant number of," Cundiff told the board. He added that, of the college's current enrollment of 6,600 students, about 4,800 of them take 11 hours or fewer each semester, with 1,200 students taking between one and three hours.
Conversely, he said, only 321 students currently take a "full load" of 15 credit hours or more.
The fee change did not get by unscathed, however, drawing concerns from board member Judy Selberg. While she agreed with the idea in principle, she said she was concerned whether or not the college would really be able to recoup the same amount of fees as it currently does with the flat $50 fee. She was also bothered by the idea that those students who do take full course loads would see their fees rise from $50 to as much as $90 per semester, even as students at the other end would see their fees drop.
Cundiff explained that the new fee structure was based on the college's current average course load of eight hours per semester. Selberg said she would feel more comfortable with the new fees if the college could set a cap at $72 for 12 hours, with any larger course loads paying the same amount, rather that the proposed maximum of $90.
Board member Kathy Hodel also joined Selberg in lamenting the fact that the board had not been presented with a first or second reading of the new policy ahead of time, so as to have the opportunity to discuss the matter with the students it would actually end up affecting prior to their vote. Board member Travis Lingenfelter asked whether or not the board could opt to adopt the new fees for just one year, then revisit them if they prove to be problematic. Board president Jerry Ambrose explained that the fee structures are set annually anyway, and that yes, the board could easily revisit the matter in the future.
With that, the board cast its vote in favor, with Julie Bare making the motion and Selberg seconding. In a separate vote, the board also approved as presented individual course and program fees for the 2010-2011 school year.
Elsewhere on the agenda, Board members unanimously approved the college's 17th articulation agreement, this one with Minneapolis-based Capella University. With the agreement in place, MCC students will now be able to transfer directly into Capella as juniors through seven different MCC degree programs.
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