BOARD UPDATE: TUITION, STUDENT FEE INCREASES, FACULTY TENURE AND SABBATICAL APPROVALS
On March 20 the MHCC District Board of Education held a formal meeting in the Town & Gown Room, following a special faculty tenure reception in the adjacent Jazz Café.
The board took action on various items including faculty tenure recommendations and sabbatical requests, as well as tuition and student fee increases.
Mt. Hood President Lisa Skari and Board Chair Diane McKeel listen as Vice Chair, Jim Zordich reads the motion to call on Skari to create a new five-year agreement with OPB in regards to KMHD at the March 20 District Board meeting in the Town & Gown Room. (Photo by Megan Phelps / the Advocate)
The final decision of the evening regarded KMHD, MHCC’s FM radio station, which has been operated by Oregon Public Broadcasting for the past 10 years. The Board rescinded its motion from the Jan. 16 meeting to grant OPB a two-year contract extension accommodating its use of the college’s radio station license. The board then voted to instruct Mt. Hood President Lisa Skari to work with OPB on a five-year contract extension, with modifications. The motion also retained the college’s right to broadcast on the sub-frequency channel known as KMHD2, an online streaming station used by broadcasting students. (For more details on KMHD, see the above story.)
TUITION
The Board approved an $8 (8%) in-state tuition increase, a $17 (8%) out-of-state tuition increase, and a $7 (3%) international tuition increase, resulting in per-credit hour tuition rates of $115, $233 and $243 for in-state, out-of-state, and international students, respectively. (The in-state tuition rates beyond 18 credits in a quarter (term) is $57.50 per credit; out-of-state and international students must pay the full amount, no matter the number of credits taken.)
The overall operating budget for the college is due to be approved by the Board this month (April), with funding cutbacks to several departments and other expenditures certain to be made.
FEE CHANGES
The Board approved a student activity fee increase of 25 cents per credit hour (now $4.25 per credit hour, total), and terminated certain fees no longer being sold in areas such as the Aquatic Center. Some course fees and test fees were adjusted as well.
When asked why the student activity fee was increased, Director of Student Life and Civic Engagement, Doctor Abio Ayelia explained that Mt. Hood has been undercharging for student activities compared to other community colleges in Oregon. Student activities also had lost roughly $90,000 this year due to enrollment being down 5 percent. Enrollment is expected to potentially be down by 8 percent, so the fee will accommodate for the loss in revenue this year and prepare student activities for further potential losses next year.
FACULTY TENURE
Ten faculty members were approved for tenure: Jessica Wittman, chemistry instructor; Steven Johnston, automotive technology instructor; Ilya Babiy, dental hygiene instructor; Erika Ruhl, game design instructor; Eric Garvey, automotive technology instructor; Jessica Scott, psychology instructor; Thomas Fuller, literature and composition instructor; Daniel Davey, music instructor; Dale Gronso, graphic design instructor; and Ellen Garcia, nursing instructor/Health Professions.
FACULTY SABBATICALS
Nine faculty members were approved for sabbatical leaves: Eden Isenstein, Career Planning and Counseling instructor/counselor; Chris Jackson, philosophy instructor; Shannon Valdivia, speech and forensics instructor; Antonia Robinson, nursing instructor; Jerry Lyons, automotive technology instructor; Julie Hutchin, Adult Basic Skills/GED instructor; Beth Sammons, literature and composition instructor; Mace Archer, theatre artistic director; and JD Kiggins, broadcasting instructor.
Sabbatical leaves are granted for various purposes, some of which include preparing a new course for the college, enrolling in studies or training programs and/or to complete the requirements for a degree or certificate, and to learn new methodologies related to the faculty member’s instructional area, program, or discipline. Upon returning to duty, each faculty member reports on the work completed during the professional leave and how it applies to his/her college assignments.
Another action item on the agenda was approval of a vendor to rebuild the college stadium bleachers. The administration recommended awarding the contract to Bleachers International Inc., and the Board concurred. The work should be completed by about Aug. 31 at a cost of approximately $200,000.
The next regular Board meeting will be held at 6:30 p.m. on April 17 in the Board Conference Room.
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