TJC Mulls Cuts; Major Tuition Hike Considered

TYLER — With state budget cuts looming, lawmakers are looking at making major cuts in community colleges across the state — and Tyler Junior College is no exception. According to KETK, at TJC, the proposals mean cutting $5,877,348 out of employee health insurance, $1,132,581 out of their employee retirement match, and $127,693 out of the funding formula. This — mixed with unfunded growth of $7,989,339 — makes a grand total of more than $15 million slashed — which is a 32.6% loss from 2010.

The state already trimmed five percent from all community colleges last year. Dr. Mike Metke, President of TJC, says they had a hiring freeze and even canceled one of their graduation ceremonies for the cuts. They also raised property taxes 33% to take care of maintenance tax notes, and the board promised the public they wouldn’t raise taxes again this year or next. “We’ve promised, and we’re going to stick to that promise that we’re not going to raise taxes,” says Dr. Metke.

Without raising taxes, TJC is left with two options: raising tuition and cutting jobs. Dr. Metke says, “We’re going to raise tuition even higher. We don’t want to do that, but we have to. In order to fully make up for the cuts, we would have to virtually double our tuition — and to make up for our unfunded enrollment, we’d have to triple our tuition …more than triple.”

TJC Chief Financial Advisor Sarah Van Cleef says along with raising tuition, they will look internally and make some hard decisions regarding employees and programs. Dr. Metke says the state’s proposals cut more from community colleges than 4-year schools. “The bulk of students now are at community colleges. We’re already doing the heavy lifting, and we’re willing to do more. All that we would ask is that we be treated as full members of the higher-education family and that we get the same proportion of cuts, not more,” he says. While tuition hikes could spark state-wide, state proposals also slash financial aid. More tuition and less financial aid leave many Texas students nervous.