A $4 increase in tuition rates this fall looks a lot like last year’s increase at Barton Community College.
The BCC Board of Trustees approved the increase Tuesday after hearing that revenue for the college during the next fiscal year is projected to decrease in two areas: state aid and local tax revenue. While property valuations won’t be known for awhile, Dean of Administration Mark Dean said oil valuations continued to drop in the last year. Oil was valued at $38 a barrel in 2015 and will be valued at $27 for 2016.
The increase of $4 per credit hour for all students will generate approximately $290,350, Dean said. Last year the college raised tuition $3 and agreed to use $900,000 in cash reserves to offset the loss of revenue.
The $4 tuition increase is for all students — Kansas residents, out-of-state, international and online. Fees will remain unchanged, and students in Barton County will continue to receive a scholarship which, in effect, reduces their tuition by $7 per credit hour. That means Kansas students will pay $72 per credit, or $65 if they live in the county, for classroom instruction. Tuition for out-of-state students will be $103; international students, $155; and BartOnline students, $150. Fees are still $32 per credit hour.

Audit bid
In other business, the college received two bids for audits for the fiscal years ending June 30 in 2016, 2017 and 2018. Adams, Brown, Beran & Ball was awarded the bid for $131,730. The other bid from BKD in Wichita was $131,716.
Both firms meet the qualifications from the bid specifications and are capable of performing the audit work, Dean said.  
The board also approved hiring Jasminka Fiso as a custodian on the Barton County campus. There was a 30-minute executive session for discussion of personnel.
Dean of Workforce Training and Community Education Elaine Simmons gave a presentation about a program she is spearheading, the Barton Leadership Institute.