Budget Cuts Lead to Tuition Increase at Tri-County

By Rebecca Eidson June 3, 2003

At its meeting on Monday, June 2, Tri-County Technical College's Commission approved a tuition increase, raising the cost of attending the College from $1,125 to $1,225 per semester for full-time students. The increase goes into effect for the fall term, which begins August 25, 2003.

"No one regrets this increase more than I do," said Tri-County's President, Don C. Garrison, who will retire on July 31, 2003. " Like other State agencies, our budget has been cut time after time in recent years. Now, we find we'll have to start the new fiscal year in July with nearly one million dollars less in State funding than we currently have. We had no other choice but to raise tuition."

Compounding the problem is the fact that technical colleges now are serving more students than ever before. The Lottery Tuition Assistance Program, funded by the South Carolina Education Lottery, has attracted more and more students to the technical colleges. For each of the last three terms, Tri-County has seen significant enrollment increases, ranging from a high of nearly ten percent during Spring Semester to over six percent for Summer Semester.

Dr. Garrison pointed out that the College is pleased to serve more students, but doing so puts a tremendous strain on College resources. According to Dr. Garrison, the technical colleges receive no additional operational funds to offset the increased costs associated with serving more students. "We get some lottery funding for technology, but none for additional faculty, staff, or facilities," said Dr. Garrison. "Lottery funds primarily are for the students to help offset the cost of their tuition."

A tuition increase is not the only action Tri-County has taken to cope with budget cuts. "We have delayed hirings and cut costs, despite the fact that we are already underfunded and understaffed. Perhaps the most dramatic step being taken by the College is our decision to increase teaching loads and staff work hours to meet current and future demands," stated Dr. Garrison.

He pointed out that State budget cuts during recent years have taken a heavy toll on technical colleges in SC. Tri-County Technical College and the State Technical College System as a whole currently are funded at approximately 43% of their Mission Resource Requirement (MRR), which is the average amount of State funding received by similar institutions in the Southeast. After the cut takes effect, MRR will drop to approximately 38%.

He went on to say that the burden of higher tuition can be lessened if students take advantage of the many financial aid and scholarship opportunities that are available, including the lottery-funded tuition assistance program which is available to nearly all students if they apply for federal financial aid.

"The counselors in our Financial Aid Office will work with students to be sure they are getting everything they are eligible to receive, especially lottery scholarships," Dr. Garrison stated. "We'll do everything we can to ensure that this tuition increase doesn't prevent anyone from attending Tri-County. We simply had no other choice but to raise tuition in the face of such a serious budget cut."
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