Harper Board Approves Tuition Increase in Wake of State Revenue Shortfall

State support expected to be cut in half in 2010, 2011

(PALATINE, IL)  The Harper College Board of Trustees approved raising tuition $8.50 per credit hour to help offset cuts in state funding. Trustees voted 5-2 to approve the increase.

Because of the State’s fiscal crisis, Illinois community colleges have been told to expect only 50 percent of their appropriated funding in 2010 and 2011.  Harper receives about $6.7 million annually from the State, but will likely receive only half that amount this year and next.

Harper’s tuition will increase from $90 to $98.50 per credit hour beginning this summer. The renovation and technology fees will remain the same at $14 per credit hour. The cost for a full-time student (30 credit hours) will increase by $255, to $3,375 per year.

“Given the massive fiscal deficit and political gridlock in Springfield, we see little hope that the State will follow though on its obligation to fund community colleges even at last year’s reduced levels,” said Harper College President Ken Ender. “It’s ironic that the State is reducing community college funding at the same time we’re serving a record number of people in this difficult economy.”

Harper’s Full Time Equivalency (FTE) enrollment is up over 10 percent from last spring. Statewide FTE fall enrollments at community colleges reached an all-time record of 223,353, an increase of 9.5% from last year.

The tuition increase will only cover about $2.5 million of Harper’s projected $3.4 million revenue cut from the State in Fiscal Year 2011. In anticipation of state cutbacks, the College has delayed filling vacant positions, cut department budgets and reduced utility and other operating costs.

“We must continue to operate the College in the most efficient way possible without affecting the high quality of our classes and academic rigor that Harper is known for,” said Dr. Ender.

Harper’s tuition increases will be covered for students who are eligible for financial aid under the federal Pell Grant Program and the state’s Monetary Award Program (MAP). Last year, nearly 6,600 Harper students qualified for financial aid, totaling $17.2 million. The Harper College Educational Foundation, the fundraising arm of the College, also made available more than $500,000 in scholarships which were awarded to more than 300 students last year.

“We want to do everything we can to make sure no student is turned away from Harper solely because of financial reasons,” said Dr. Ender. “The College will continue to work to increase our pool of scholarship money, both public and private, to make sure Harper remains affordable for all who choose to attend.”