Nic Trustees Decide To Increase Tuition, Fees Tuition Will Go Up $25 Per Semester And Fees $14

Despite objections from the student body president, North Idaho College trustees decided unanimously Wednesday to raise tuition and fees by $39 per semester.

“We’re still the least expensive institution in the region,” said David Lindsay, vice president for student services, as he recommended the trustees approve the increase.

Tuition will go up $25 per semester, the maximum amount allowed by law. Fees will rise by $14 per semester.

Total tuition and fees will increase from $1,218 this year to $1,296 next year for in-state students, a 6.4 percent increase. For out-of-state students, the cost will rise from $4,194 to $4,456, a 6.2 percent increase.

Tuition is rising largely because of burgeoning enrollment. Fall enrollment was at a record high of 3,943 students, a 12 percent jump over last fall. Lindsay said the additional money raised by the tuition and fee hike would be used to hire faculty and staff in departments used by most students, such as the registrar, admissions and financial aid.

That was little consolation for student spokesman Dan Sheckler, who said the college should also think about jacking up property taxes to contribute to rising costs.

“The amount students are paying is making up a larger and larger share of the college’s operating budget,” Sheckler said. A graph he displayed showed that in 1991, student tuition and fees contributed 13 percent of the college’s overall budget. That number would rise to 20 percent with the proposed hike for next year.

At the same time, the college has worked hard to decrease its levy rate and the amount of money taxpayers contribute to the school. The college’s levy rate has decreased 40 percent since 1995, and actual taxes paid to the college dropped from $5.9 million in the 1994-1995 fiscal year to $5.6 million this year.

“What has happened is there has been a significant trend for the college to place more of the burden on students. I think this trend has got to stop,” Sheckler said.

College President Michael Burke said that the college needs to increase tuition to provide high-demand programs such as computer information technology and computer-aided design, both of which require highly trained faculty and expensive equipment.

Burke said the college is investing in the community by training students for high-paying jobs.

“That’s not an inexpensive endeavor,” Burke said.

Board member Sheila Wood commended Sheckler on his presentation and for “having the mettle” to take on the board.

“You stated your case very well for the students,” she said.

Board Chairwoman Barbara Chamberlain told Sheckler he had raised a good point and that the trustees should think about what percentage of the budget should come from students.

“It’s a good starting point for a discussion,” she said.