PSC Puts Tuition Hike Vote On Hold, Will Hold Budget Workshop

CHICAGO HEIGHTS, IL — Prairie State College is reaching an olive branch out to seven disgruntled southland mayors by delaying a vote on a proposed $4-per-credit-hour tuition increase that they oppose so the college can hold workshops to explain the reasons for the increase.

Although the March vote has been postponed, the proposal is not off the table.

"I would not try to do this if I didn’t believe it was 100% right thing to do," said Terri Winfree, president of Prairie State College.

The board last month proposed increasing the in-district tuition rate to $145.50 per credit hour from $143.50, and raising the technology fee by 50 cents to $15.50 for each credit hour. The proposal includes hiking the infrastructure fee to $10.50 — a $1.50 increase.

A vote had been scheduled for March. However, a group of mayors in the college's district publicly protested the increase, saying the college had enough money in reserve to prevent a tuition increase.

"The requested increase to tuition and fees is unwarranted based on the current audited financial position of Prairie State College," the mayors wrote.

In their letter, they said the school ended the fiscal year with $21.2 million in cash. They also pointed out that the current yearly tuition of $5,130 is 22 percent higher than the average tuition cost of the state’s 38 community colleges.

Winfree countered that the proposed tuition increase is equivalent to a cost of living raise, and would bring in an additional $174,000 for the college.

She also explained that the idea that Prairie State's reserves can be spent freely is misleading. Most of it is earmarked by law. For example, she said, more than $5 million is federal financial aid money, which is distributed to students for tuition and living expenses only.

In addition, the college is staring down major expenses. Deferred maintenance costs, including roof and electrical services repair, total at least $22 million. Over time, the state's new $15 minimum wage increase will cost $1.2 million. If the state shifts the cost of pensions to school districts, the move will cost Prairie State an additional $1.6 million each year.

The college does not have a policy mandated how much of its budget it should keep in reserve, although officials try to keep it in line with the recommended 25 percent of the fund balance, Winfree said. About $6 million currently is held in reserve.

Winfree said she and the board understood the need to explain higher education's complex budgeting system to those directly affected by cost increases and she welcomed questions. A workshop will be held this spring before a vote is taken, should the board decide to go ahead with the proposal.

"I believe the proposal was fair, I still stand behind that. It is fair to our students," she said.

Prairie State remains affordable for students, Winfree added, and those who need help paying for school have federal and state financial aid available to them. Those who don't qualify or who face other, uncertain circumstances also may have funds available to them, she said.

"If someone can’t afford the tuition and they come to us, we will do everything we can to try to help them. We want them to be a student here."

The mayors who signed the letter are Chicago Heights Mayor David Gonzalez, South Chicago Heights Mayor Terry Matthews, Steger Village President Ken Peterson, Glenwood Mayor Ron Gardiner, Homewood Mayor Rich Hofeld, Ford Heights Mayor Annie Coulter, and Sauk Village Mayor Derrick Burgess.