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Jackson College is raising in-district tuition by 8 percent for the 2016-17 year.

(File Photo)

SUMMIT TWP., MI - An 8-percent tuition increase awaits most Jackson College students in the fall.

Meeting on Monday, June 13, the college's Board of Trustees voted to hike tuition from $125 to $135 per billing contact hour, which is similar to a credit hour and represents the amount of time students spend in the classroom.

Out-district student tuition rises from $172 to $195, a 13-percent increase. Out-of-state and international student tuition rises from $250 to $270, also an 8-percent hike. American Honors students will pay $210 more annually.

With these increases, JC's tuition rate now is projected to be the highest of all 28 Michigan community colleges in the coming fall, according to Michigan Community College Association figures.

Trustee Phil Hoffman cast the only dissenting vote, saying the increase was too difficult for Jackson County students to absorb.

"The people being asked to sacrifice the most can least afford it, and that's our students," Hoffman said. "And regardless of the worth of the programs this increase will pay for, the ends don't justify the means."

The across-the-board increase for all students is part of a $44.5 million 2016-17 operating budget also approved by trustees on Monday. Hoffman also voted against adopting the budget due to the tuition hikes, he said.

Included in the budget is a $985,000 increase in wages, the majority of which supports the addition of six student success navigators to add to six hired last year.

The student success navigators act as student advisers in a program titled Total Commitment to Student Success, which college officials have said aids in the retention of students and helps them complete degree or certification programs.

The student service fee also is increasing from $38 per billing contact hour to $40, which college officials said would help fund added campus security.

The current tuition increase comes on the heels of a 6.8-percent increase for in-district students last year and increases of 5.4 percent, 4.7 percent and 4.9 percent the three years prior to that.

Tuition and fees are projected to bring in about $24.4 million in revenue, or nearly 55 percent of JC's 2016-17 budget.

College officials have said in the past the hikes are necessary to offset a lack of revenue from local property taxes. JC is projected to get about $4.9 million in property taxes in 2016-17, which amounts to 11 percent of the total budget.

The average in-district cost per billing contact hour at Michigan's 28 community colleges is $98.13, while the average out-district cost per billing contact hour is $161.78, according to MCCA figures.