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For more information contact Bryan Armstrong, KCTCS (859) 246-3146, ext. 1208

KCTCS Board of Regents revises tuition for 2003/04

LEXINGTON, Ky. (April 2, 2003) – Over the last two years, enrollment in colleges in the Kentucky Community and Technical College System (KCTCS) has grown by more than 15,000 students, while the colleges have added hundreds of new academic options for students.

At the same time, state budget appropriations to KCTCS have been cut by $7.7 million.

Responding to those conditions, and the need to continue to serve communities and employers across the Commonwealth, the KCTCS Board of Regents on Wednesday revised tuition rates for the 2003/04 academic year.

Previous action by the Board of Regents had set in-state tuition and fees for 2003/04 at $68 per credit hour, or a maximum of $1,020 for students taking 15 or more credit hours per semester. The board voted on Wednesday to increase in-state tuition and fees to $79 per credit hour, or a maximum of $1,185. KCTCS rates remain the lowest in the Commonwealth.

“Our colleges serve as the primary point of access for students seeking postsecondary education and workforce training,” said Cynthia L. Read, chair of the Board of Regents.

“We will continue to offer students the highest value for their tuition and fees. And we will continue to expand and enhance the services that we are providing to communities and employers.”

        Regents said they were forced to raise tuition to bridge the gap between rising costs and dwindling state appropriations.

Enrollment continues to grow – KCTCS colleges serve almost 50 percent more students than they enrolled four years ago. The colleges have added more than 700 new programs in the last five years, with no new funding to finance the additional programs.

Meanwhile, faced with a continuing revenue shortfall, the state has reduced the appropriation that KCTCS receives in each of the last two fiscal years – a $3.3 million cut in 2001/02 and a $4.4 million cut in 2002/03. Today, KCTCS is operating on $7.7 million less in annual state revenue than it was appropriated at the start of the 2001/02 fiscal year.

Also, the 2003/04 state appropriation for KCTCS falls more than $20 million below the funding level recommended by the Council on Postsecondary Education.

KCTCS has responded aggressively to the Commonwealth’s fiscal crisis by implementing numerous budget reduction measures, such as limiting the hiring of personnel to only critical vacant positions; limiting overtime; significantly restricting travel, printing, and capital equipment and furniture purchases; selling surplus property; and initiating energy savings.

Regents said the tuition increase will provide funding to continue the progress of KCTCS toward achieving its vision of being recognized as the nation’s best system of two-year colleges. The funding raised by the new tuition rates will assist KCTCS in achieving the following priorities:

·              Providing quality academic programs and services to students, employers and communities.

·              Increasing financial reserves to guard against future budget shortfalls.

·              Maintaining the KCTCS information technology network, which enhances learning opportunities for students.

·              Providing for employee salaries and benefits.

All regents who attended the meeting, which was held via interactive television, approved the new tuition rates, including the two student regents. Student regent Donna Bartlett of West Kentucky Community and Technical College said the increased revenue is vital to maintaining quality in the colleges: “The money needs to be there.”

In other action, the Board of Regents approved a plan to implement the $4.4 million budget cut imposed by the 2003 General Assembly for the 2002/03 fiscal year.

KCTCS tuition rates – 2003/04 academic year

*  Rate per credit hour for students enrolled for fewer than 15 credit hours.