Last Wednesday SLCC President Bioteau addressed the tuition increase created by the 2012 fiscal year budget cuts. The total budget cut increase for SLCC students will be five percent.
Held at the Taylorsville Redwood Campus, the event was called the Truth and Tuition Forum, which is held once a year. The forum was to inform SLCC students of the tuition increase and why the increase is taking place. Students were in attendance to find out about the tuition increase and to ask questions.
“I came today because I have a family, and expenses for school are important,” student Dan Hampton said.
The tuition increase is a result of the higher education budget cuts that were passed by the Utah State Legislature. Originally Senate Bill 0007 called for a seven percent budget cut for higher education schools. The budget cuts were amended for a 2.7 percent budget cut, which equals $1.7 million dollars. The school will not be cutting programs due to the budget cuts.
The reason for the budget cuts is the dramatic decrease in funds that the state has due to the economic times.
To offset that amount of money decreased by the budget cuts the Utah Board of Regents recommended a five percent first-tier tuition increase for SLCC. The first-tier increase is uniform for all of the nine Utah higher education schools.
The President started the Forum by informing students about the two parts of a student’s tuition bill. The two parts are referred to as first-tier and second-tier. First-tier tuition is the part of tuition that keeps the doors of the school open. The Board of Regents establishes the cost of first-tier tuition. Second-tier tuition advances the schools specific mission and priorities.
Bioteau supports a zero percent increase in second-tier tuition, which equates to a total increase of $60 a semester per the first-tier increase.
“The most important thing for the school is to remain accessible,” Director of Student Life and Leadership Curt Larsen said.
Bioteau told the students how SLCC is the only comprehensive college left in the state.
“The state needs the college more than they ever have,” Bioteau said.
Bioteau also answered questions from students concerning the budget cuts and how they will affect the school.
“We need to keep tuition as low as we can while providing quality education,” she said.
Bioteau doesn’t expect a decrease in student enrollment due to the tuition increase. The college will offer fewer classes next fall and spring semester, but the school will offer more classes during summer semester.
The President closed by saying that the college is a partner with the student body and the community.
Students with concerns about the tuition increase can contact student government at their website, which can be found on MyPage.