Like other colleges across the nation, LBCC is no stranger to budget fluctuations. Funding comes from 3 sources; Tuition, property tax, and government support. While only 40% of LBCC's funding comes from tuition, the other 60% is made up of the other two.
"State support is directly related to income taxes." says Stephanie Kerst, LBCC's executive assistant - finance and operations. "When the economy began to go into recession, the college expected that state support could be reduced, as it has in other recessions."
The last major increase was at the beginning of winter term. "We are phasing tuition increases in." says Kerst, "We increased tuition effective January 2011, and will again in July 2011 and July 2012."
Without knowing why tuition increases, many students are left to wonder why and what is going on. With the information on LBCC's website, it is all easy to come by, you just have to know where to look.
Each increase will be $7 per credit. The next increase will cause in state tuition to go from $84 to $91, out of state from $178 to $185 and international from $230 to $237. The increases may seem to not be that bad but imagine the affects of 5 tuition increases within a few years.
"With being a full time student and working part time, the tuition increase has been hard," Kacey Dowers, student at Linn-Benton. Her father has been helping her with school but it's getting a little more difficult.
Even though tuition is rising for students, faculty are feeling the crunch as well. There will be 12 positions cut this year- four faculty and eight support jobs. It's not just students feeling this hard time.
At a Glance:
Albany Democrat Herald: LBCC will cut 12 positions
2010-2011 Adopted Budget
Financial Aid Office: 541 917-4850
