By Staff
The Southwestern Michigan College Board of Trustees approved tuition increases for the coming academic year, awarded a service pin, accepted gifts and grants and conducted other business during a regularly scheduled meeting for March held on Tuesday, March 13 at SMC's Dowagiac campus.
The Board of Trustees adopted the tuition and fee schedule to be effective for fall semester 2007. Changes included a $4 per contact hour increase for in-district students, a $5.75 increase for out-of-district students, a $6.50 increase for out-of-state students and a $9.25 increase for international students.
The new contact hour rates will be: in-district, $78.25 (up 5.4 percent from $74.25); in-state, $99.75 (up 6 percent from $94); out-of-state, $107.75 (up 6.4 percent from $101.25); and international, $138.50 (up 7.1 percent from $129.25). Additionally, trustees approved a $1.50 per hour increase in SMC's registration fee and a $3 increase in the technology fee.
According to SMC President Dr. David Mathews, "Even with the new tuition rates, Southwestern Michigan College provides an outstanding educational value. Next year, total tuition and fees for a full-time student of SMC's district will still be less than $1,500 per semester. Moreover, SMC's tuition and fee costs will continue to be far less than half of those of Central Michigan University, Western Michigan University or Michigan State University, and less than a third of the tuition and fee cost of the University of Michigan.
SMC Board of Trustees Chairman Dr. Fred L. Mathews described the tuition adjustment in relation to total college revenues: "Tuition is one of the three major revenue sources that the college needs to operate. The other two are state aid and local millage. State support has declined catastrophically since 2001, and the Headlee rollback has reduced the college millage from 3.0 approved by the citizens of the college district to only 2.54 mills. The college will continue to aggressively control costs, reallocate expenditures and seek grant funding. Beyond this, modest tuition increases such as those approved tonight will insure that SMC remains affordable, and ensure that the college has the resources to maintain the highest quality academic programs and services. These increases are notably modest in view of low local tax support and large cuts in state funding over the past five years," continued Chairman Mathews. "This is because the administration and Board of Trustees have, by necessity, restructured and streamlined SMC to reflect funding realities. The core mission of the college, its education and training of students has not – and will not be – compromised."