The following press release was received from Bob Jackson, candidate for trustee at McHenry County College.People for Robert S. Jackson
Contact: Robert S. Jackson
815 308-7643
For Immediate Release
March 2, 201l
Robert S. Jackson on Possible MCC Tuition Hikes and Smart Planning for the Future
Woodstock—Robert S. Jackson, a candidate for McHenry County Community College Trustee, released his thoughts on the proposed “nearly eleven percent tuition and fee hike” recently cited in an article in the Northwest Herald:
Committed expenses, including the 7% increases due plus faculty in salary and benefits in their contract ending in 2012 require that some way of increasing income must be found. But future faculty salary and benefits will need to become a lower proportion of all college expenses. And they will need to reflect the depressed economic situation we are currently experience and may continue to endure for a while longer.
For now, the board should consider short-term borrowing to be paid back by such an expected future reduction of proportionate expenses. Historically low interest rates make this among the best times in history for institutions to borrow money – if one properly positioned to pay it back.
Since that action would take too long to meet immediate needs, tuition and fees hikes will be necessary.
The hikes should be large enough to provide funding for a scholarship program that is both “mean,” and “motivation” tested. The economically disadvantaged will be given priority and not further disadvantaged by these hikes. Motivation-testing aims at applicants who will complete their programs rather than those apt to use resources then drop-out.
The board should consider joining tuition-supported funds to private funding sources to create a reconstituted and improved if more modest “Promise Program.”
4 comments:
If the college didn't offer these end of career BUYOUT packages and for lack of a better term, "Golden Parachutes", maybe then they could hold the line on tuition. There are too many administrators sucking dollars out of the pockets of students trying to achieve their dream or get ahead.
MCC and Junior colleges in general serve the people that can't attend other four year institutions.
Right you are, Mr. Green. And now those students cannot afford MCC or junior colleges.
Is it really necessary to hire and pay a Ph.D. to teach remedial math? Something that should have been taught by a teacher with a B.A. at the kid's high school?
When I was in college, freshman classes were taught by (what were they called?) - interns? You know, graduate students who got stipends for teaching core classes and grading papers.
Plus they don't need Crown Vic squad cars idling around the parking lot. If they need campus police they can drive a nice all wheel drive Santa Fe or CR/V
Education is a business. The business of striving for larger salries, benefits and absurd retirement packages and we have not even mentioned the textbook scam. Just remember it's 'for the children' [no matter what their age].
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