PCC Board Approves Differential Tuition
April 14, 2011
Tucson, AZ – The Pima Community College (PCC) Board of Governors Wednesday night approved changes in tuition for courses that are more costly for the College to offer.
The new tuition rates will become effective for the Spring 2012 semester.
It is common for colleges and universities to charge more for courses that cost more to offer. At least 60 percent of public research universities apply differential tuition for certain courses, majors or programs. Like most other colleges and universities, PCC applies differential tuition to students who are not Arizona residents.
PCC reviewed four years of cost data. To qualify for differential tuition, the cost of a discipline’s courses had to be at least double the College median for two or more consecutive years.
Courses costing at least twice but less than four times the median for two consecutive years were found in the following disciplines: Aviation Technology, Music Studio Instruction, Technology, Travel Industry Operations, Respiratory Therapy, Machine Tool Technology, Massage Therapy, Veterinary Technology and Welding. Courses in these disciplines will be subject to a 30 percent differential.
Courses costing more than four times the median for two straight years were found in the following disciplines: Dental Hygiene, Radiologic Technology, Nursing, Fashion Design, Clinical Research, Dental Laboratory Technology, Medical Laboratory Technology, and Dental Assisting Education. Courses in these disciplines will be subject to a 40 percent differential.
Differential tuition rates apply to courses, not entire programs. For example, a PCC Nursing student will not pay a differential for non-Nursing courses such as Writing that are needed to satisfy the program’s degree requirement.
The total cost of a program will be based on a combination of differential and non-differential rates. For example, the College’s Machine Tool Technology (MAC) program qualifies for a 30 percent differential rate. But the cost increase for MAC students will translate to only 19 percent, because to satisfy the program’s degree requirement they also must take non-MAC courses that are unaffected by differential tuition.
In-state tuition is set at $58.50 per credit hour. The 30 percent differential rate constitutes an additional $17.50 per credit hour, increasing the per-credit-hour cost to $76.00. The 40 percent differential constitutes an increase of $23.50 per credit hour, increasing the cost to $82.00 per credit hour.
Differential tuition will be effective in Spring 2012 and is expected to generate approximately $200,000 for the Fiscal Year 2012 General Fund.
In other action at Wednesday’s meeting, the Board approved an agreement with Habitat for Humanity-Tucson to give as many as 12 advanced students in the College’s Building and Construction Technology program quality hands-on experience through the construction of Habitat for Humanity homes. The term of the agreement is July 1, 2011-June 30, 2012.
Also, the Board approved a new Certificate for Direct Employment in Phlebotomy. The new occupational education credit program will be offered through the Center for Training and Development at Desert Vista Campus. Economists forecast an 11 percent growth rate in Pima County for phlebotomists between 2010 and 2015.
Additionally, the Board renewed an agreement with the U.S. Air Force to provide educational programming and services at Davis Monthan Air Force Base through April 1, 2012. PCC has provided instructional programs and education services at Davis Monthan since 1981. The College annually serves approximately 3,500 students at its Davis Monthan education center, offering classes that permit students to complete Associate of Liberal Arts, Associate of Business, Associate of Science and Associate of General Studies degrees. Educational services offered at Davis Monthan include admission, registration, assessment, orientation, advising, testing, and financial and military tuition assistance.
The next scheduled meeting of the Board will be Wednesday, May 11, 2011 at 7 p.m. in the PCC District Office Community/Board Room at 4905 E. Broadway.
CONTACT:
A. Rachelle Howell, Assistant Vice Chancellor for Marketing,
(520) 206-4850