KCTCS Board of Regents Approves $5 Tuition Increase
The Kentucky Community and Technical College System (KCTCS) Board of Regents approved
a four percent increase in tuition for in-state students during its quarterly meeting
today at Elizabethtown Community and Technical College. The board also approved a
provision that allows students enrolled at a KCTCS college in fall 2010 or spring
2011 who re-enroll in 2011-12 to maintain the 2010-11 tuition rate.
By guaranteeing tuition rates for returning students for the 2011-12 academic year
we believe we will increase student retention, raise transfer rates and improve credential
completion rates at all of our 16 colleges, said Thomas O. Zawacki, KCTCS Board of
Regents Chair. Increasing student success is a critical component in accomplishing
our mission to place more Kentuckians on the path to a postsecondary degree and a
successful career.
In-state tuition rates for the 2010-11 academic year will increase from $125 per credit
hour to $130. Out-of-state tuition rates approved by the board include a $260 per
credit hour rate for students from contiguous counties and $445 for all other out-of-state
students.
The approved tuition rates are consistent with the parameters established by the Council
for Postsecondary Education. These parameters include an in-state tuition rate increase
of four percent and out-of-state rates of at least double in-state rates.
Additionally, the board approved a 2010-11 budget of $827,094,100 and faculty and
staff compensation that includes a nonrecurring salary supplement for all KCTCS faculty
and staff of $1,000 for those employed as of April 1, 2010 who meet performance requirements.
Other compensation approved includes:
- Nonrecurring merit bonuses of $2,000 for regular full-time faculty; and staff who meet performance requirements during the 2010-11 academic year;
- Fixed cost increases in current employee benefit programs; and
- Faculty promotions.
Due to limited resources over the past several years, we have been unable to provide
a recurring salary increase for faculty and staff for what is now three years, said
KCTCS President Michael B. McCall. I believe it is important to provide our dedicated
faculty and staff with some financial reward for their outstanding work in light of
the increase in our enrollments.
The board also approved a leadership initiative proposed by Dr. McCall designed to
transform the organization of more than 100,000 students and 10,000 faculty and staff
to meet the educational needs of Kentuckys high growth, high wage jobs. This will
be accomplished by revising the KCTCS Business Plan to achieve the goals, performance
measures, and targets outlined in the new KCTCS 2010-2016 Strategic Plan.
This plan can be found at http://www.kctcs.edu/About_KCTCS/System_Administration/Our_Strategic_Plan.aspx
Given the current economic and political climate, we know the demand for our programs
will continue to increase, while at the same time state funding will decrease, said
Dr. McCall. To succeed in this environment we must change the way we do business.
In other business, the board:
Approved or ratified 46 programs, options and certificates including two associate in applied science programs:
An Associate in Applied Science in Diagnostic Medical Sonography for Ashland Community and Technical College; and
An Associate in Applied Science in Automotive Technology for West Kentucky Community and Technical College and Air Condition Technology for Madisonville Community College;
12,847 academic credential requests (certificates, diplomas or associate degrees)
between January 23, 2010 and April 6, 2010.
The credentials include:
- 7,704 candidates for certificates;
- 1,084 candidates for diplomas; and
- 4,059 candidates for associate degrees.
The next meeting of the KCTCS Board of Regents will be September 17, 2010 at Ashland
Community and Technical College.
