GCC board votes to increase tuition

By CHARITY SMITH

[email protected]

Ironwood — The Gogebic Community College board voted to increase tuition by 2.4% for local students and 2.5% for out of district/state students on Tuesday, during its first in-person monthly board meeting since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“As we look at our demographic base and our student base, any increase is going to be felt by our student base, so 2.4% I felt was acceptable at this point and time with everything that is going on,” said Erik Guenard, vice president of business services.

Guenard said GCC continues to offer competitive tuition rates compared to other colleges and universities.

“Based on restricted state financial support, conversations with other colleges and statewide decreased or flat enrollment, it is anticipated all colleges will be increasing their rates in 2020-21,” he said.

The increase makes in-district tuition $127 per credit hour, out-of-district and Wisconsin reciprocity $180 per credit hour, and out-of-state tuition will be $209 per credit hour. This increase amounts to $45 more per semester for in-district students and $75 more for out-of-district/state students who are enrolled full time (15 credit hours).

The increase does not affect international students and students enrolled in the dual enrollment/early college program, according a press release from the college. No fees will be charged for general education classes.

The board also approved the hiring of Tara Tregembo of Ironwood as a psychology instructor. Tregembo is an alumna of GCC, and has a graduate certificate from Appalachian State University, a master’s degree from Walden University and a bachelor’s degree from Northern Michigan University. She has been working at GCC as the transfer coordinator since 2018 and assistant registrar. Prior to that, she served as the TriO coordinator for five years. The board is now looking for a full time registrar to fill her vacated rolls.

The resignation of the network technology specialist Joe Urbaniak, was accepted by the board. Urbaniak was hired in May 2019. Guenard said Urbaniak used “his skills and talents to further the IT infrastructure along with the IT staff at Gogebic. The college community is thankful for his involvement during his tenure and will miss his energy and dedication to the service he provided.”

The board also approved:

—An 80/20 insurance option for employee medical benefits.

—A $1.4 million line of credit from Gogebic Range Bank to balance the cash flow of the college for the calendar year, when there is a lack of state funding and property tax revenue is not released.

—The list of adjunct faculty for the summer 2020.

Prior to the meeting the college held a truth in taxation hearing regarding the property tax millage. The millage accounts for 13.8% of the college’s operating budget, according to Guenard. The college is authorized to receive 1.5 mills as a statutory operating millage, along with a 20-year voted 1.50 mills, but because of the 2001 millage reduction fraction, the operating millage is held to 1.3065 mills and the 20-year millage is 1.4927 mills, according to a release from the college.