TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Tallahassee Community College’s District Board of Trustees recently approved a budget for the 2012-13 fiscal year, one that includes no tuition increase for the Fall 2012 semester.

Last month, TCC President Jim Murdaugh announced his recommendation to freeze tuition, despite authorization by the Florida Legislature to increase tuition by up to five percent.  Today, the Board voted unanimously to support the President’s recommendation.

TCC tuition and fees are $98.83 per credit hour for in-state residents; $375.99 per credit hour for out-of-state residents.

President Murdaugh’s recommendation was due to Governor Rick Scott’s request to colleges to first make certain that they are as efficient as possible with current budgets before increasing student tuition rates.  Scott also added that any tuition hikes should support improved learning gains, higher completion and placement rates, or improved programs tied directly to Florida’s workforce.

“Unless and until we can identify strategies to improve the College in the three areas that the Governor identified, we will not ask our Trustees to vote for a tuition increase,” President Murdaugh said at the May 21 board meeting.

TCC leadership does monitor and implement strategies in the three areas the Governor asked colleges to focus on before considering tuition increases.  TCC’s emphasis on improved learning gains has been tracked at 85 percent and 82 percent in the areas of critical thinking and written communication, respectively.

TCC’s completion rate is almost three percent higher than the state average. Still, extra effort is being made to enhance student engagement, intervene early when needed and offer greater outside the classroom learning support and experiences.  The College is working to improve programs tied to Florida’s workforce needs by expanding STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) and environmental programs and aligning with local advisory boards to determine the best education and training needed for in-demand jobs.

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