NSCS Board to approve tuition rates

If approved by the Board Friday, undergraduate resident students will pay $122.50 per credit hour, up six dollars from last year. This increase will translate to an additional $90 per semester for undergraduate students taking a full load of 15 hours. Tuition for graduate students will be $155.50 per credit hour. Non-resident undergraduates will pay $245 per credit hour and non-resident graduate students will pay $311 per credit hour.

In response to current economic challenges, NSCS Chancellor Stan Carpenter, along with the college presidents, began budget planning sessions in October 2008. This also coincided with salary negotiations for unionized staff for the next biennium. 

Carpenter said, “Our budget process in the Nebraska State College System was strategic, collaborative and inclusive. Systemically, we worked through many different and difficult scenarios, taking into consideration operations, programs, positions and more to find the best way to cut nearly three million from our budget for next year (2009-2010). We remained within the framework of our state appropriation while working to assure the viability and vitality of our colleges without having our students bear the brunt of the difficult economic times.”

The NSCS will receive an increase in state appropriation for operations of 1.5 percent for each year of the biennium. “We are appreciative of Gov. Dave Heineman and the Legislature’s support of the Nebraska State College System during these tough economic times.”

In February, the NSCS Board approved an Agreement with Nebraska Association of Public Employees support staff employees that resulted in an overall increase to the salary pool of 3.3 percent and 3.2 respectively over the two years of the biennium. A Special Master ruling resulted in a 3.5 percent salary increase for Nebraska State Colleges Professional Association professional staff in each year of the biennium. Faculty in the State College Education

Association are seeking an 11 percent raise over the next two years and Special Master ruled in their favor in February. The NSCS appealed the ruling in March and is awaiting a ruling from the Commission of Industrial Relations sometime this summer. 

All NSCS non-faculty employees making over $75,000 annually will receive no salary increase this year. Chair of the Fiscal and Facilities Committee Larry Teahon of Chadron said, “The Board is very appreciative of the sacrifice these employees are making on behalf of our students.”

Carpenter said, “The current economy has been a challenge for many people, including our prospective students and their families. Because the Nebraska State College System mission is to provide access to high quality higher education, we felt it was important to offer our students some new tuition assistance opportunities at Chadron, Peru and Wayne State this fall. The NSCS Advantage assures that Pell-eligible freshmen will not have to pay any tuition at all. Chadron, Peru and Wayne State are also participating in the Yellow Ribbon GI Program at a level which provides full tuition and mandatory fees to those military personnel who qualify. These programs fit with our mission of serving our students, communities and the state by assuring that those with the greatest need will have a real opportunity to complete a college education in Nebraska.” The Nebraska State College System Advantage guarantees that first-time freshmen students who receive federal Pell Grants will pay no tuition at the Nebraska State Colleges for the 2009-10 academic year. Participants in the NSCS Advantage Program must be a Nebraska resident, a federal Pell Grant recipient, a new first-time freshman for the 2009-10 year and enrolled in at least 12 on-campus credit hours. More information can be found at www.nscs.edu/value.

The Yellow Ribbon GI Education Enhancement Program is offered in conjunction with the United States Department of Veterans Affairs and is available to service men and women who were honorably discharged and who have served at least 36 months after September 10, 2001. Additionally, those who were honorably discharged from active duty for a service connected disability and who served 30 continuous days or those who are a dependent eligible for Transfer of Entitlement under the Post-9/11 GI Bill based on a veteran’s service are also eligible for the program. More information about the Yellow Ribbon Program can be found at www.gibill.va.gov.

“One of Gov. Heineman’s key priorities is to increase the college-going rate in Nebraska. This was also a recommendation from the LR 174 Higher Education Task Force. The new programs offered throughout our system address these priorities by assisting those who may not have attended college due to financial reasons,” Carpenter said.