March 16, 2004

Board approves new tuition rates for 2004-2005 academic year

Oklahoma residents who enroll at Cowley County Community College beginning with the fall 2004 semester will be charged the same tuition and fee rate as Kansas residents, Cowley's Board of Trustees approved Monday night at its regular monthly meeting.

The Board approved the following five tuition rates for the next academic year: Cowley County residents $42 tuition plus $18 fees for $60 total; all other Kansas residents $47 tuition plus $18 fees for $65 total; Oklahoma residents $47 tuition plus $18 fees for $65 total; all other out-of-state residents $99 tuition plus $18 fees for $117 total; and international students $148 tuition plus $18 fees for $166 total.

In effect, tuition was increased $2 per credit hour for Cowley County and all other Kansas residents, $10 per credit hour for international students, and kept the same for all other out-of-state residents. Tuition for Oklahoma residents was reduced $31 per credit hour. Student fees will remain unchanged at $18 per credit hour.

"We're bringing them (Oklahoma residents) in line with our in-state rate," said Dr. Pat McAtee, Cowley president.

Along with the tuition adjustment, the Board also approved an increase in the room and board rate for students living on campus. Effective with the fall 2004 semester, students on a 14-meal plan will pay $3,200, up $200 from this year, and students on a 19-meal plan will pay $3,330, up $210 from the current rate.

There was no discussion on either matter.

In other matters, the Board:

• Voted to enter into a lease agreement with Unified School District No. 263, Mulvane, for five years, with the option to renew, on a renovated school within Mulvane that would house the college's Mulvane Center. The Board approved the agreement only if the Mulvane school district's May 4 bond issue passes. Bloomenshine is the school building that is being renovated.
• Viewed a construction report which indicates that the timeline to complete the renovation of W.S. Scott Auditorium has been moved from Oct. 1 to Aug. 27. Demolition on the south end of the structure began last week. The new classroom building is expected to begin in late May and be finished in May 2005.
• Viewed a 20th-day enrollment report for the spring semester which indicates that total headcount was at 4,507 students on Feb. 16, the official reporting day, and that full-time equivalency was 3,044.50. As of March 10, FTE was 3,055, compared to 2,904 on the same date a year ago.
• Heard McAtee praise Beverly Grunder, chair/instructor of the Business and Service Technology Department, for her work with students in Phi Beta Lambda. Grunder, who was named state Advisor of the Year for the second time in the past three years, accompanied 13 students to the 53rd Kansas Leadership Conference and Competition in Salina March 4-5. "She's done a good job with that program and is to be commended," McAtee said. Marni Erb, Lori Aikens, Jessica Whitson, Russell Lowden, Amber Reuber, Lindsey Patton, Chelsea Scott, and Angela Root qualified to attend the national PBL conference in Denver July 8-12. Root also will be serving as vice president on the Kansas State Board of Officers for the 2004-2005 year.
• Learned that the Tigerette Danceline placed fourth in the collegiate pom division and first in the collegiate hip-hop division at the United Performing Association Nationals Feb. 27-29 in Minneapolis, Minn. Lisa Kuchenbecker, a sophomore from Arkansas City, was a top-five finalist in the collegiate kick, leap and jump categories.
• Approved the following personnel transactions: A letter of resignation from Matt Van Boening, Humanities Department instructor, effective May 31, 2004; the employment of Roberto Germain as director of education, Aviation Tech Center, effective April 1; and the overload payment for the spring 2004 semester in the amount of $79,775 for 173 credit hours involving 32 faculty members.
• Saw McAtee present Sarah Area and Lucas Goff with gifts for being named March and April students of the month, respectively.
• Held an executive session for 30 minutes to discuss non-elected personnel and property acquisition.