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VC, UHV hike tuition

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  • PAMELA BOND - Victoria Advocate
  • Originally published May 20, 2008 at 9:07 a.m., updated May 20, 2008 at 9:07 a.m.

The Victoria College and the University of Houston-Victoria will raise tuition costs for the next school year.

Starting in the fall 2008 semester, VC students will pay $5 more per credit hour, as the resident tuition increased from $32 to $34 and the general fee increased from $17 to $20. The board of trustees approved the increase at its on meeting Monday.

Raising tuition was necessary to offset the continued decrease in state funding, said Jennifer Yancey, vice president of college advancement and external affairs. The college’s tuition is still below the state average for public community colleges, since the average total tuition and fees for Texas community colleges is $57 and VC’s is $54 for next year.

In preparing the 2008-2009 budget, the college evaluated the needs of different areas, such as faculty salaries, current technology and maintaining infrastructure, Yancey said. VC allocates about 6 percent of the total tuition for grant awards to students.

“We raise it only as necessary,” said VC president Dr. Jimmy Goodson. “The increase stems from things like rising electricity costs and new technology. At the same time, I’m impressed that we’re giving away this much in non-repayable grants to students.”

The University of Houston System board of regents approved to raise tuition at UHV by 5 percent at its meeting May 15 in Houston. An in-state undergraduate student taking 12 credit hours will pay about $102 more in tuition and fees.

The board of regents chairman, Welcome W. Wilson Sr., said that the increase was necessary to continue providing quality education. Systemwide, the increase will generate $17 million, of which $3 million will go to financial aid.

Tuition and fees make up 37 percent of the university’s annual operating budget. State funding currently accounts for 36 percent of the budget, which has decreased from 47 percent in 1998.

Pamela Bond is a reporter for the Advocate. Contact her at 361-580-6578 or pbond@vicad.com, or comment on this story at www.VictoriaAdvocate.com.



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