PGCC Instructional Service Fees Going Up Next Fall

By Stephen K. Cooper

Students attending Prince George’s Community College next fall may have to dig a little deeper into their wallets to afford a higher education. The PGCC board of directors, at its early December meeting, unanimously approved a $95.9 million budget for fiscal year 2010 that includes a $1.5 million hike in instructional service fees for students beginning with the Fall 2010 semester.

PGCC Vice President for Administration and Finance Thomas E. Knapp said the fee increase will boost the college’s spending on student clubs and activities as well as the inter-collegiate student athletic programs. It will also help meet the college’s general expenses, he said.

PGCC’s move to higher instructional fees comes at a time when many colleges across the nation are facing a choice of boosting tuition rates or cutting teaching staff to make financial ends meet during the recession. Although tuition rates are not currently set to increase at PGCC, the college’s budget won’t be finalized until June when the Prince George’s County Council and the Maryland state legislature decide on funding levels.

Knapp called the proposed fee increase fair, and said that students are getting a quality education at an affordable price compared to other local colleges. “Certainly, we remain incredibly less expensive than any of our four year institutions. I think we provide every bit as good instruction as they do, or better, and yet we’re a cheaper price than they are,” Knapp said. “I don’t believe there’s another community college in the state that’s better than we are.”

Student reaction to the proposed fee increase was intensely critical. Chris Monroe, a second year sociology major, said the college already makes enough money and did not need to raise fees. Donele Smith, a second year business and accounting major, said PGCC should keep prices at a minimum so that students can afford to come to school and get an education.

“This will affect me personally because my dad is paying out of pocket,” said Crystal Lindo, a first year general education major. She suggested that if the athletic department really needs money for student teams that they should try fundraising activities rather than raising fees on students.

The proposed $1.5 million increase in instructional fees would be imposed under a new structure. Under the current instructional services fee structure, students either pay $27 (Level 1), $32 (Level II) or $37 (Level III) per credit hour based on the type of class in which they are enrolled. Students are also required to pay a $1 per credit student activity fee, up to a maximum of $15 per semester. For a three credit, Level I class, a student would pay $288 in class tuition, a $25 registration fee, a $3 student activity fee, and an $81 instructional services fee. As a result, the total cost of a three credit class is $397.

Beginning next fall, the college wants to eliminate the three-tiered instructional service fee and the $1 student activity fee and replace them with a flat fee of $38 per credit for all students, except senior citizens and those retired early on disability. The result will be that for the same three credit course, the total bill would be $427, or an additional $33 per class.

Put another way, for a student enrolled in 15 credits of Level 1 classes, the total bill is approximately $1985 for one semester. Under the new system, the same student would pay $2,135, or an additional $150 per semester.

Knapp said that most PGCC students are enrolled in Level II and Level III classes, so their instructional fees will only be increasing by roughly $6 per credit, or an additional $90 per semester for 15 credits.