2008 Woodie Awards
Student reactions to increase vary
The district's board of trustees approved tuition, fee increases last week.
By Kristina Lindberg
Last update: 5/17/06 at 8:20 AM CST
Fire science sophomore Frank Bailey said a tuition increase does not make a big difference for him because he receives financial aid.
Bailey said although he receives financial aid, it would be nice to get the money instead of having it added to his tuition bill.
The Alamo Community College District board of trustees approved a 5 percent tuition increase, as well as fee increases, during their regular March meeting.
The increases will be effective in the fall.
Bailey takes advantage of the services offered by the student learning assistance center and said the shorter hours of the center put a "little damper on the situation."
He liked to go there at night but with the new shorter hours, these services are not available anymore.
The SLAC lab cut its hours, tutoring and free printing.
Criminal justice sophomore Cesar Lara said the increases are modest and thinks they should not affect students.
The Phi Theta Kappa officer will transfer to Baylor University in the fall, and comparing the tuition of theses schools makes the tuition increase here look modest, Lara said.
From the increase, Lara said he would like to see a working student government.
A student who takes 12 semester hours at this college pays $654, while a student at the University of Texas at San Antonio pays a total of $2,351 for the same number of hours. All colleges in the University of Texas System will increase tuition. UTSA will increase by 11.58 percent in fall 2006 and another 8.28 percent in fall 2007.
Full-time students at Texas A&M Kingsville System Center at San Antonio pay $1,596 for a 12-hour course load while students at Texas State University-San Marcos pay $2,349.
Business administration sophomore Emilia Dickinson said she would prefer the tuition remain the same, adding the extra money could break students' budgets.
"The books are so expensive. It will be harder for students to take courses," Dickinson said. "They are going to harm the students."
Dickinson mostly studies in the library and also takes advantage of the student learning assistance center lab. She said she wants the hours and printing privileges back to the old standards.
Liberal arts freshman Teresa Shaver said she will go along with the increase.
"I guess I do what I have to do," Shaver said. "It's still cheaper than others."
Chrystal Villarreal, a biology junior at UTSA who also attends this college, does not agree with the higher tuition.
"Students, they want to become successful in society, and they are discouraged (by the increase)," Villarreal said, adding that the increase will not affect enrollment.
"I think that students will pay no matter what," she said.
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