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An increase in state funding is not enough to cover costs of higher enrollment, the school president says.
By RYAN DAVIS
© St. Petersburg Times, published June 28, 2001
BROOKSVILLE -- Starting this fall, students will pay more to take classes at Pasco-Hernando Community College.
During its monthly meeting Tuesday night, PHCC's Board of Trustees voted without discussion to approve the state-recommended fee increase. The move will bump a Florida resident's cost per credit hour to $50.13 from $48.53.
The increase will allow the college to continue its recruitment and expansion efforts, officials said.
"The amount of increase we received from the state otherwise is not enough to handle increased enrollment," said PHCC president Robert Judson, who recommended the increase.
At the same meeting, trustees voted 7-1 to hire a consultant to start planning for an on-campus day care center.
Since a survey last fall showed that one in four students have interest in using day care, trustees have pushed for such a facility. They also voted to hold a workshop in August to further discuss the idea.
The fee increase is part of the school's new $19.1-million budget. It gives administrators and faculty a 3.34 percent pay increase, Judson said.
Despite the tuition increase, school officials said PHCC remains less expensive than the four other Tampa Bay area junior colleges -- Polk, Manatee, Hillsborough and St. Petersburg.
The state approved the fee increase this spring as part of its budget, but each school must decide whether to implement it.
- Ryan Davis covers higher education and social services in Pasco. He can be reached at 800-333-7505 ext. 3452 or by e-mail at rdavis@sptimes.com.