The Kentucky Community and Technical College (KCTCS) Board of Regents has approved a $6 per credit hour tuition increase. The tuition increase equates to a $108 annual increase for those in-state students taking 18 credit hours per year, which is the average for KCTCS students.
Approved out-of-state tuition rates include a $12 per credit hour rate for a total of $324 per credit hour for out-of-state students from counties contiguous to Kentucky. All other out-of-state students will pay $21 more per credit hour for a total of $567 per credit hour.
The tuition rates follow the Kentucky Council on Postsecondary Education’s (CPE) tuition setting guidelines.
“We are very focused on keeping the cost of college as low as possible while providing a high quality educational experience, which has led to cost-cutting measures and thinking differently about how we do certain things,” said KCTCS Board of Regents Chair Marcia Roth. “We’re proud that our tuition is still the lowest in Kentucky and less than half the cost of other state institutions.”
KCTCS is working with Barnes and Noble College to reduce the cost of student textbooks as well. While most college students pay more each year for the cost of books, KCTCS students are actually paying less. The average KCTCS student saves $109 per year on books compared to what they paid four years ago because of agreements Barnes and Noble College has negotiated with several publishers. In addition, KCTCS implemented book rentals and e-textbook programs through Barnes and Noble College that add to the savings.
In other board action, a 3 percent raise for KCTCS faculty and staff was approved. Because of the elimination of almost 800 positions over the last two years, many KCTCS faculty and staff have taken on additional responsibilities and the board recognized the need to increase salaries. The last time the KCTCS Board of Regents approved a salary increase greater than 2.5 percent for employees was in the 2011-12 budget. For the past three years, KCTCS has awarded an average salary increase of 0.67 percent. The state universities awarded an average salary increase of 1.3 percent in that same time period.
“We recognize our faculty and staff work tirelessly to ensure our students have the best experience possible,” Roth said. “Our goal is to retain these dedicated employees and make KCTCS more competitive with the other postsecondary institutions in Kentucky.”
Additionally, the board:
• Approved the operating budget for 2017-18 of $852,852,100.
• Approved five associate and two diploma programs and ratified 17 certificate programs:
◦ An associate in applied science in diagnostic medical sonography and in health science technology at Elizabethtown Community and Technical College,
◦ An associate in applied science in agricultural technology and in electrical technology at Madisonville Community College; and
◦ A diploma in healthcare for facility leadership and an associate in applied science and a diploma in medical assisting for Owensboro Community and Technical College.
• Approved 17,932 academic credential requests (associate degrees, diplomas and certificates). These credentials include:
◦ 11,057 candidates for certificates;
◦ 1,225 candidates for diplomas; and
◦ 5,650 candidates for associate degrees.
The next meeting of the KCTCS Board of Regents is scheduled for Sept. 14-15 at Madisonville Community College.
