Clovis Community College raising student fees

Clovis Community College will be raising student fees next semester, but not tuition, according to President Becky Rowley.

Debbie Zurzolo, CCC's chief financial officer, said a student facility use fee of $10 per credit hour will help pay for debts on capital outlay projects.

The Board of Trustees passed the increase Tuesday in an effort to balance $25 million in expected revenues with $25.5 million in projected expenditures for fiscal year 2012-2013.

More than 1,600 CCC students enrolled full-time will see fees jump from $20 per semester to $140, increasing the schools revenues from fees by an estimated $500,000 next year.

Rowley said the school is facing increased budget expenditures due to expiring federal Title V funding and Higher Education Department nursing grants, which total $250,000.

In addition, the state of New Mexico is requiring CCC to pay an estimated $140,000 in expenditures for employee benefits, Zurzolo said. The benefits were covered by the state last year, during rough economic times, but the college will resume responsibility in June.

Zurzolo said property and liability insurance on CCC's newly completed Allied Health Center Phase II will add another $30,000 to the annual budget.

The new building includes labs and offices for EMTs, radiology technicians and nurses, Rowley said.

The good news is the state of New Mexico increased appropriations to the college by $322,000 this year, Zurzolo said.

The budget proposal also included a $500,000 grant from a private donor for the Petty Performing Arts Center project. CCC is renovating the old Mesa Theater at 206 Main Street for school and public use, Rowley said.

Another boost to the budget will come from book sales commissions generated by Barnes and Noble College, the company that took over operation of CCC's bookstore in April.

Rowley said CCC will be able to absorb the costs incurred by the expiring grants and keep its budget within the guidelines of the Higher Education Department.

Other business:

• Connie Connelly was reappointed to the CCC Labor Management Resolution Board, where she has served since May 2010, with Rick Switzer and Mark Carpenter.
• Three CCC staff were recognized as recipients of the National Institute of Staff and Organizational Development's excellence award: Carl Armstrong, adjunct instructor in physics; Brad Heath, instructor in health and physical education; and Monica Sanchez, instructor in business administration.