No student input and District Governing Board members asked no questions prior to making decision
Tuition increases at Yavapai Community College are annually approved by the District Governing Board with little significant questioning, discussion, or commentary. The meeting on October 29, concerning the requested tuition increase for the 2025-2026 academic year, was no exception. It mirrored last year’s presentation of the topic, which lasted just eight minutes. This year, the presentation and Board vote took only twelve minutes of the meeting.
Tuition increase
The average increases this year will be around five percent. In addition to the increases, several classes were moved from tier 1 to tier 2, where the tuition per credit hour is higher. For example, a tier one student taking 12 semester credits will now pay about $60 more in total. A tier two student taking 12 semester credits will pay about $72 more in total. A tier three student (Career and Technical Education) will pay about $84 more per semester.
Aviation courses have been increased by 12.1% (commercial) and 31.5% (private pilot). Administrative fees were increased from anywhere from $10 to $95 per request depending on what was asked to be furnished.
According to the College, the various tuition increases in total will bring in about $705,550 of badly needed new money. It is noted that the College also anticipates an overall growth of 7% in students. If Community College estimates turn out to be correct, this will bring in about $1,037159 in additional revenue in 25-26.
Reasons for student input – lack of discussion
There was no discussion during the Governing Board meeting regarding seeking student input on the tuition increase prior to the vote raising them. That seems unfortunate.
Many agree that when a Community College Governing Board considers raising student tuition, gathering substantial student input is invaluable for an informed decision. For example, students can offer firsthand insight into how a tuition increase may impact their education, financial stability, and long-term prospects. Hearing from students allows the Board to gauge whether an increase might impose undue hardship, potentially leading to higher dropout rates or declining enrollment, which can ultimately affect the College’s reputation and financial health.
Additionally, student input fosters transparency and trust. It ensures that that those directly affected by such decisions feel heard and valued. This collaborative approach often results in policies that better balance the institution’s financial needs with the students’ welfare, reinforcing a sense of shared responsibility and community within the college.
Reasons for rejecting student input
Possibly the Yavapai Community College Board members believe that consulting students, who may not have complete financial knowledge, could hinder the decision-making process or create unrealistic expectations regarding the Community College’s economic limitations. However, no Board member has suggested that this is the reason there was no student input.
More likely the Governing Board avoided student input because of the potential for strong opposition, which could delay or complicate the process. Tuition hikes are almost always unpopular among students, and Yavapai’s Board might anticipate that consultations will spark protests or public backlash, shifting the focus away from what they consider the Community College’s long-term interests. The Board may feel that decisions should be made based on impartial analysis rather than emotional appeals, believing that such an approach allows for a more objective evaluation of the college’s needs.
The Board provided no explanation for excluding student input, leaving the public unaware of its stance on the issue. This issue should have been openly discussed before the decision was made. Its omission, at best, is regrettable.
Yavapai Community College initiated the “Promise Scholarship Program” in 2019. This program reimburses students for any direct tuition costs not covered by federal, state, third-party, or college grants upon graduation. To qualify, students must complete their education within seven semesters.
Tuition increases at Yavapai Community College are annually approved by the District Governing Board with little significant questioning or commentary. The meeting on November 26, concerning the requested tuition increase for the 2024-2025 academic year, was no exception.
Yavapai Community College president Dr. Lisa Rhine has announced a tuition waiver update for faculty and staff. It was not clear whether the benefit is immediately available or faculty and staff must wait until spring 2024.
It is of particular importance to “Dreamers.” These are persons who entered the United States without legal permission as children. Many of them came from Mexico and other Latin American countries and consider themselves American, having grown up and possibly only speaking English in the United States. Some may not have even been aware of their unauthorized immigrant status until they were older and unable to obtain a driver’s license or financial aid for college due to their lack of a Social Security number.
Tuition and fees are one of the sources for paying off revenue bonds that are issued without taxpayer approval. These bonds, for example, were used to help finance renovation of student housing on the Prescott Campus.
collected primarily from veterans who the Blog has been led to believe make up more than a majority of students taking the training.
In February 2019 Yavapai Community College announced that it had initiated a tuition free scholarship program for Yavapai County residents beginning in the fall 2019. In theory, every high school graduate seeking a two-year degree in Yavapai County could attend the Community College tuition free. The College goals driving what it labeled the Promise Scholarship Program were twofold: First, the College wanted to increase its market for college bound students. Second, it wanted to encourage students to complete and obtain a degree in a two-year period. (See Blog of February 21, 2019).
The Arizona Attorney General’s office announced January 20, 2022 that thousands of Arizona student borrowers are expected to receive over $54 million in debt relief because of the settlement of an eight-year-old lawsuit with Navient. Navient, once called Sallie Mae, was alleged to have used unfair, predatory, and deceptive student loan servicing practices. Navient has denied the allegations.