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CLEAR Temp: 68 °F Wind: SSW at 5 mph Saturday, October 12, 2002 SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map EXTRA HomeLife Magazine W3 Magazine Jobs @ Mail Tribune Tempo A & E Oregon CarZone Wellness Connection Real Estate Newspaper in Education Prime Times Outdoor Journal Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People CLASSIFIEDS Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Find Everything E SOUTHERN OREGON Automotive Communities Entertainment Publications Recreation Calendar ABOUT US FAQ What's New Advertise Home Delivery Classified Ad Contact Us Media Kit Email Story to a Friend September 24, 2002 Rogue Community College students line up at the bookstore Monday to buy supplies for the Sept. 30 term. Budget cuts will mean some students will pay more for tuition beginning next summer. Mail Tribune / Bob Pennell RCC trims free-credit program A deal that gives some new students nine credits has been cut to six credits in a budget crunch that also will force staff cuts and a tuition boost By DAMIAN MANN Mail Tribune High school graduates will pay more for tuition next summer as Rogue Community College finds ways to deal with budget shortfalls. RCC will trim $733,000 in administrative staff and other services to balance this year’s $25 million budget, but the cuts are far less than earlier estimates of $2.7 million in a worst-case scenario. Normally, students who enroll at RCC within one year of graduation get nine credits for free during the first term. But under the new tuition arrangement, the estimated 400 new students will receive just six free credits. This will generate about $60,000 annually for the college, but it means a typical new student would pay $147 for the extra three credits. The new tuition arrangement does not apply to students enrolling for classes this year, which begin Sept. 30. RCC President Rick Levine said the school had discussed eliminating the credit program altogether, but decided it provided too much of an incentive for attracting students. "This is still a pretty generous program," he said. "Most colleges don’t do this at all." Even with this tuition change and other increases, the school will have to cut staff to balance its budget, though the reductions are less severe than earlier estimates. "This is a sigh of relief that this wasn’t worse than it is," said Tom Bradbeer, dean of human resources. RCC will lose two managers through early retirement, eliminate 5.7 classified positions and end contracted custodial services in Jackson County, saving $75,000 this year and $120,000 in future years. RCC also will eliminate developmental studies at three outreach centers and increase fees for adult basic education and GED (general educational development) diplomas. One of the managers lost will be Bradbeer, who has been with the school for 17 years but decided to leave earlier than planned to help the school financially. Bradbeer said the kind of cuts planned should have minimal impacts on students in the classroom. While the budget picture looks better than it did, Bradbeer cautions that things could worsen depending on how the Legislature handles funding problems. RCC is also hoping to pass a $40 million bond Nov. 5, which would free up $600,000 from the school’s operating budget that it now pays for rent and leases on buildings. "We could put that money to work in classrooms," said Bradbeer. The school is anticipating continuing budget problems, and could ultimately raise tuition to $53 a credit over the next four years. RCC raised tuition to $49 a credit last spring, making it the highest of the 17 community colleges in the state. Since then, five other colleges in the state have raised tuition higher, with Treasure Valley the most at $59. Reach reporter Damian Mann at 776-4476, or e-mail [email protected] Printer Friendly Version Email Story to a Friend Subscribe Archive: Click to Search Mail Tribune Home Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life Opinion - Politics | AP News | Archives | Site Map E Southern Oregon | Classified Copyright 1997-2002 Mail Tribune. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy webmaster feedback A D V E R T I S E R S