CCC raising tuition rates

CLOVIS — Tuition rates are going up for the first time in five years at Clovis Community College, school President Becky Rowley said Wednesday.

CCC’s board of trustees on Wednesday morning voted unanimously to increase in-state tuition from $39 per credit hour to $44 per credit hour, beginning with the fall semester.

Tuition for out-of-state students will increase from $89 to $111 per credit hour.

The hike is expected to generate about $400,000, Rowley said.

Some student fees will also go up, by $10 to $25, according to numbers provided by the college.

Rowley said the college has seen about $800,000 in budget cuts from the state, necessitating the tuition hike.

She said it’s the first tuition hike in five years and will help offset about an 8 percent cut in funding from the state.

Rowley said expenses have also been cut in connection with the cutbacks from the state.

CCC has until the first of May to submit its final budget.

Also at Wednesday’s meeting:

• Mark Bussen, chairman of the 28th annual St. Pat’s Racquetball Tournament, was congratulated for raising more than $36,000 for scholarships.

• The board granted faculty emeritus status to Becky Carruthers, who worked at CCC from 1991 to 2016. The recognition is for “her long and dedicated service” to CCC, Faculty Association President Carolyn Lindsey wrote in a letter to trustees.

• Tom Drake, vice president for administration and government relations, said CCC is investigating energy savings performance contracting. The process involves facility improvements related to energy use without upfront capital funding. After approval of the New Mexico Higher Education Capital Projects Committee and evaluation of financing, a plan will be submitted to the board for approval.

• Trustees elected Arnold Martinez as their chairman and elected Terry Martin as secretary.

• Rowley announced recipients of service pins.

Paul Aragon, Kelly Gray, Sandra Taylor-Sawyer and Jan Williams received 25-year service pins.