PCC’s Tuition to Remain Among Lowest in Arizona
March 15, 2012
Board approves $5 change to in-state tuition and is asked to cut the Interim Chancellor’s salary by nearly $92,000
Tucson, AZ – Pima Community College’s tuition will remain among the lowest of Arizona community colleges after the PCC Board of Governors voted unanimously Wednesday to approve a $5 per-credit-hour change to in-state tuition.
The change will bring PCC’s in-state tuition to $63.50 per credit-hour – about $7 less than the preliminary average per-credit-hour tuition at Arizona’s nine other community colleges.
“The College has a longstanding history of keeping tuition as reasonable as possible,” said Dr. David Bea, PCC’s Executive Vice Chancellor for Finance and Administration. “That will not change.”
The new tuition rate, which takes effect in Fall 2012, was supported by PCC’s student government leaders.
Between the 2008 and 2013 academic years, PCC has increased annual in-state tuition and fees by 32 percent. Arizona’s other community colleges have increased their annual tuition and fees by an average of 43 percent over the same period, while annual tuition and fees have gone up 105 percent at the University of Arizona.
In a presentation to the Board, Dr. Bea said that one of the driving forces behind the change in tuition is the dramatic drop in state funding. In 2008, PCC received $1,140 per student from the state. This year, the College received $319 per student.
State aid currently comprises 5 percent of PCC’s general fund revenues. County property taxes comprise 62.5 percent and tuition comprises 32 percent.
Dr. Bea’s PowerPoint presentation is attached, along with a chart showing PCC’s tuition rate history since 2003.
PCC’s student fees for the 2012-2013 academic year are unchanged from the 2011-2012 academic year. They include a $2.50 Student Services fee, a $2 Information Technology fee and a $10 per-semester processing fee.
During Wednesday night’s discussion about tuition, the Board was asked by Interim Chancellor Dr. Suzanne Miles to amend her contract. Dr. Miles requested a $91,904 reduction in her annual salary because of the need “to send a message” about the importance of being prudent with public funds.
“Dr. Miles’ request is unprecedented,” Chairman Scott Stewart said after the meeting. “It’s rare that employees ask us to cut their own salary.”
The Board will consider the request at its April meeting. If approved, Dr. Miles’ annual salary would be reduced from $288,965 to $197,061.
Dr. Miles was named Interim Chancellor on Feb. 29 to replace Dr. Roy Flores, who stepped down because of health reasons. The Board on Wednesday approved a national search for a permanent chancellor, and directed PCC administration to issue a Request for Proposals to hire an executive search firm.
Chairman Stewart promised that the search for a new chancellor will be “thorough, inclusive and transparent.”
“Choosing the next chancellor is the most important decision the Board will make,” he said. “We are going to do it right.”
Also Wednesday night, the Board voted unanimously to conduct many of its remaining 2012 meetings at its campuses throughout metropolitan Tucson.
Currently, almost all Board of Governors meetings are held at PCC’s District Office at 4905 E. Broadway. PCC has six campuses, located on the East, West, South and Northwest sides of greater Tucson, as well as near Downtown.
The first campus to host a Board meeting will be East Campus, 8181 E. Irvington Road. The Board’s regular May meeting will be held in the East Campus Community Room at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, May 16.
“Holding Board meetings at our campuses is a great way to make it easier to interact with the community,” Chairman Stewart said.
The Board’s vote amends its 2012 meeting schedule, which was approved at its Annual Meeting in January. Here is the new 2012 schedule. All meetings are on Wednesdays.
- April 11: District Office, 4905 E. Broadway, Community Board Room, 7 p.m.
- May 16: East Campus, 8181 E. Irvington, Community Room
- June 20: District Office, Public Hearing, Special and Regular meetings
- July 11: District Office
- August 8: Downtown Campus, 1255 N. Stone Ave., Amethyst Room
- September 12: West Campus, 2202 W. Anklam Road, Community Room
- October 24: Desert Vista Campus, 5901 S. Calle Santa Cruz, Ocotillo Room
- November 14: District Office
- December 12: Community Campus, 401 N. Bonita Ave., Room A109-112
In 2013, the Board hopes to hold meetings at the College’s Adult Learning Centers, including the new Roberts Center in midtown Tucson, and at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base Education Center if security issues can be addressed.
CONTACT:
C.J. Karamargin
Vice Chancellor for Public Information and Government Relations
(520) 206-4850
ckaramargin@pima.edu