At its regular April meeting this evening, the Macomb Community College Board of Trustees appointed Charley G. Jackson, Jr., to fill the vacancy created by the resignation of Trustee Frank DeSantis.  Jackson is a resident of Eastpointe and is employed as a contracting specialist at the Army Contracting Command – Warren while attending law school.  

The board also authorized a five percent tuition increase for 2011-12, increasing the resident rate by $4 to $84 per credit hour.  Before considering the tuition increase, the college had already taken action to leverage available bond monies to reduce a projected $ 9 - 12 million budget shortfall. The estimated budget deficit can be traced to a number of causes, including a $13.2 million decline in property tax revenue over three years; continued increases in fixed, mandated expenditures, including payments to the Michigan Public School Employees’ Retirement System; and a cut in appropriations expected once the state’s budget is finalized. With two-thirds of the college’s traditional revenue sources subject to continued erosion, tuition and student fees now comprise 42 percent of the college’s operating budget.

“Keeping Macomb’s tuition affordable is important to our students, who rely on our value as well as local access to educational programs of quality and relevance.  Manageable tuition is also a key factor in supporting and encouraging community members to turn to education to position themselves for sustainable employment in the 21st century economy,” said Jim Jacobs, president of Macomb Community College.  “We have carefully considered all options, employing a number of avenues to deal with the shortfall to keep the necessary increase in tuition to a modest level.”

Even with the increase, Macomb’s tuition is still below the average per credit hour rate of the other 27 community colleges in the state. An annual survey also confirms that the total charged for tuition and fees by Michigan community colleges shows that costs for a typical student beginning at Macomb is nearly 12 percent below the state average.

All of Macomb Community College’s tuition rates will increase 5 percent:  Nonresident from $122 to $128; out of state/ foreign from $159 to $167; affiliate (those living in areas not served by a community college district) from $101 to $106; and minimum variable (contract) from $80 to $84.  The new tuition rates are effective beginning with the 2011 fall semester.

Macomb Community College (www.macomb.edu) is one of the nation’s leading community colleges, providing learning experiences to more than 48,000 students annually.  Macomb nationally ranks in the top two percent in number of associate degrees awarded and as the largest grantor of associate degrees in Michigan.  The college’s comprehensive educational programming includes pre-collegiate experiences, university transfer and career preparation programs, bachelor degree completion and graduate degree programs, workforce training, professional education and certification, and continuing education and enrichment opportunities.

Media Contact:
Jeanne M. Nicol
586.445.7204
nicolj@macomb.edu