At a school known as a cost-effective alternative to four-year universities, no one likes to hear “tuition increase.” But Kaua’i Community College is scheduled to follow the members of the University of Hawai’i system in a five-year tuition plan aimed
At a school known as a cost-effective alternative to four-year universities, no one likes to hear “tuition increase.”
But Kaua’i Community College is scheduled to follow the members of the University of Hawai’i system in a five-year tuition plan aimed at increasing funding within the college system while keeping it affordable at the same time.
The proposal, introduced at each UH campus at a briefing Monday, addresses various changes at different schools, with alterations at KCC and other community colleges escaping the most drastic of changes.
While the Manoa and West O’ahu campuses would experience a $3 to $4 dollar increase per credit, the plan would not increase the cost of credits at KCC until the 2003-04 school year, said Colleen Sathre, vice president of planning and policy for the UH system.
But one way that KCC students would be affected, Sathre said, is by having to pay extra for taking more than 12 credits at a time — something that is now subsidized by the school.
Currently, Hawai’i residents pay $43 per credit at the state’s community colleges up until 12 credits. After that amount, students are not charged for any additional credits.
But with 76 percent of students at or below 12 credits, Sathre said the changes would affect them in no way. That is, of course, until the plan calls for a $2 increase per credit for the 2003-04 school year.
Sathre said all tuition revenue earned off the increases will be earmarked directly for adding to various student services such as libraries, computer labs and other forms of research capabilities.
“So, in effect, it’s very beneficial for them,” she said. “This is one of the first times we’ll be able to turn it around back for the benefit of students. We think that’s very positive.”
Although the increases in credit cost would still keep Hawai’i community colleges less expensive than those in 40 other states, KCC provost Peggy Cha said administrators are aware the change would penalize the 24 percent of students taking overly ambitious workloads.
“We do recognize that for these students who want to take more and finish faster, there is going to be a higher cost,” she said.
Cha said a way to reconcile with the price increases would be to ensure students were aware of opportunities for financial aid.
“I think everybody hopes we’ll be able to address the more needy students on our campuses,” Cha said.
UH administrators are being encouraged to play up the availability of financial aid, Sathre said, to the point that financial aid personnel were encouraged to attend this week’s meeting to make themselves more approachable.
“Citizens should understand that if they want to attend a UH campus, they have a variety of financial aid options available to them, and they should take advantage of that as soon as possible,” Sathre said.
With financial assistance such as tuition wavers, scholarships, grants, loans, jobs, tax credits and college savings plans, Sathre said students from all walks of life and income brackets should still be able to afford attending any of UH’s community colleges.
“We have no reason to believe this is going to affect any ethnic groups disproportionately,” she said.
The tuition increases, Sathre said, are only a small source of where the UH system derives its funds. Other sources, she said, include general funds from the state, private support and donations and federal support.
“We have to help ourselves with some small increase in tuition,” she said. “And this is about as small an increase as possible.”
With the initial briefing already completed, Sathre said she and other UH officials will hold public meetings at various islands to address the proposal. One such forum is scheduled for Feb. 9 at 3 p.m. at the KCC student lounge.
After the meetings are wrapped up, the proposal’s authors will consider any revisions through the end of the month, bring them to the UH Board of Regents for consideration in March and then file the plan with the state lieutenant governor.
Cha, who was at Monday’s briefing, said the students that showed up were clearly interested in the proposed changes and will likely provide input at the meeting later this month.
“They were pretty much just listening right now,” she said. “I think they’re looking forward to a face-to-face meeting on the 9th.”
Staff writer Matt Smylie can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 226) and mailto:msmylie@pulitzer.net
