Ivy Tech officials say a proposed tuition hike will help the statewide community college system make investments in key areas, including more faculty and better equipment.
The Board of Trustees will vote Thursday on a tuition increase of $20 per credit hour over the next two years – $5 each semester. That’s a more than 8% increase each year, compared to the Indiana Commission for Higher Education’s 2% recommendation. And it comes on the heels of a nearly 8% funding increase in the recently passed state budget.
Yet Ivy Tech Chief Financial Officer Chris Ruhl points out that Ivy Tech only increased its tuition by $25 over the past six years.
“We’ve been modest over the past few years and ultimately there’s some catch up that needs to be done in key areas and that’s what we hope to direct the dollars for.”
He says the tuition increase will go towards boosting key areas of need, which vary from site to site.
“That’s ultimately going to go into programming. That’s additional faculty, that’s additional student services, that’s additional equipment that we think will help train them to be successful in their career of choice.”
Ivy Tech student Christopher Glick says he was concerned about a portion of the tuition increase being set aside to fund more student activities, because he didn’t think there was adequate need.
“I don’t make use of it but as was explained that a survey had been conducted and the consensus was most people are in favorite of it, then that’s fine.”
Some students voiced concerns about possible Ivy Tech facility closures around the state. Ruhl says while those remain a possibility, a decision won’t be made for some time.
