College raises tuition

MAT-SU -- Although the 10-percent tuition hike has raised the ire of students in various branches of the University of Alaska system, Mat-Su College students seem to be taking the raise in stride -- and some even seem pleased with the way the added funds will be spent.

"He definitely has an awesome approach to what he's going to do with the 10 percent," said Elaine Bialka, Mat-Su's student government president, of a proposal put forward by Mat-Su Director Dr. Paul Dauphinais. "It's a really positive thing for this particular campus."

The tuition hike of 10 percent would be effective next fall. It was approved earlier this month by the state's board of regents, the first increase above inflation adjustments since 1995. Each year, according to the Higher Education Price Index, tuition rates have risen by about 3.5 percent each year since 1995. Earlier this year, University President Mark Hamilton recommended an increase of about 6.4 percent in addition to the 3.6 inflation adjustment scheduled for next year.

"The university has started new programs, hired new faculty and greatly increased its services to students, all items that come with a price," Hamilton said. "In view of the value that has been added, this tuition increase is well justified."

Ann Ringstead, in the university's statewide office, said the university hopes the increase will have a cyclical effect.

"The university is asking the legislature for additional funds each year," Ringstead said. And each year, she explained, the legislature has approved increases, but asks the university to do their part to look for ways to reduce higher education costs to the state. Approval of the increase, she said, brought about opposition by some students. Those students have reluctantly accepted the increase, but have vowed to speak to their legislators and ask them what they, in turn, will be doing to improve the education those students are now paying higher costs for.

According to information from the university, 12 states are this year considering increasing tuition rates 15 percent or more. Nineteen states have proposed tuition increases between 8 and 15 percent and 19 states are considering increases of up to 8 percent.

One caveat of the increase, Dauphinais said, is that it allows smaller, or rural branches of the university to have more self-determination with how the rates are increased and applied.

"President Hamilton and the regents gave some flexibility to rural campuses [to decide] whether they want to raise it a little or the full 10," Dauphinais said.

Dauphinais said he met with a number of students last week to discuss what the tuition increase would mean to Mat-Su students, and how it would be applied.

For the average 12-credit Mat-Su student, Dauphinais said, the 10-percent hike would add up to about $96 per semester. If enrollment stayed the same as it was this fall, the added 10 percent would net the college about $70,000 per semester, or about $140,000 annually.

And where would the money go?

"Every campus has different needs," Dauphinais said. "What I think our needs are, are to increase the number of full-time faculty that we have."

The tuition increase, he said, would pay for about two new full-time instructors with a terminal degree -- or instructors who can teach upper-division courses; something Mat-Su presently lacks.

Mat-Su currently has 16 full-time faculty instructors and 120 adjuncts. Dauphinais has spoken before of his desire to bring more faculty on board with the highest degree available in their field. With two new positions potentially available, Dauphinais said, the college could offer up to 16 more courses and add more options for those seeking four-year degrees.

"Our students would pay $96 more per semester," Dauphinais said. "And what they get for that $96 is the potential of much more of a four-year degree."

That, Bialka said, is what has caught the ears of many Mat-Su students, including those who were originally opposed to the tuition hike.

"We didn't know what they were going to use the 10 percent for," Bialka said. "I don't think anyone's going to be happy paying more money, but I definitely am in favor of having more classes out on this campus, so we don't have to drive to Anchorage."

Dauphinais, in his meetings with students, justified the rate increase as being ultimately less than students taking one or two classes in Anchorage would pay for gas in a month's time. That, and the possibility of not having to pay for parking stickers for the University of Alaska Anchorage's parking lot -- $33 to $55 per semester -- Bialka said, more than makes up for the tuition raise.

Although Bialka said some students are still opposed to the hike, she believes they aren't aware of the benefits it would bring.

"I think if they would take another look at it, they'd agree," Bialka said. "We need to encourage students to come and let us know what they think."

Dauphinais plans to discuss the ramifications of the tuition increase further at two community forums next month. The forums will be held between 7 and 8 p.m. in room 205 of the Fred and Sara Machetanz Building on Dec. 10 and 12.