Press Releases

For Immediate Release: April 24, 2012

Contact: Darren Johnson, (518) 728-4474

No Tuition Increase for SCCC
Board of Trustees Pass President's 2012-13 Balanced Budget

Students at SCCC received great news at last night's Board of Trustees meeting – there will be no increase in tuition in the 2012-13 academic year. The SCCC Board of Trustees unanimously passed a balanced budget presented by President Quintin Bullock, who credited state lawmakers with increased state aid and the College's continued enrollment boom as key factors.

Already one of the state's most affordable colleges, tuition is $1692 a semester for full-time study or $141 per credit hour. The Governor and State Legislature recently approved a budget that will restore $150 per FTE (Full-Time Equivalent students) in state aid to community colleges. As well, the College projects an overall increase of 1.5% in enrollment in the coming year.

"Working closely with the SCCC Board of Trustees, I am proud to be able to put forth a budget for the upcoming academic year that helps our students by not raising tuition," said Dr. Bullock. "The Governor and the Legislature are to be applauded for recognizing the power of our SUNY institutions as catalysts for economic revitalization in the state, and the role of community colleges in helping create a skilled and modern workforce."

Enrollment at Schenectady County Community College has increased significantly this spring, up 6.5% overall as compared to last year.

The College has used strategic enrollment management to improve its services and offerings. The College's Center City location opened in the fall with 61 courses offered. That expanded to 88 courses this spring with over 2200 course registrations there. SCCC has also expanded its "Late Start" course offerings, which start three weeks after traditional classes, growing from eight to 15 courses from fall to spring. Local employers are responding, as calls to the SCCC Career and Employment Services Office have increased, including, especially, Nanotechnology inquiries.

"More students are choosing SCCC as a first-choice college, and we are helping them make that choice easier by offering more in-demand courses at peak times, including nights and weekends, on our main campus and at satellite locations," Dr. Bullock added. "Students see us as a gateway to acquire modern skills for careers upon graduation or for transfer to four-year colleges and universities. We have expanded our programming in high-tech and transfer areas to be further aligned with their schedules and career and educational goals."

A recent analysis by the American Association of Community Colleges and the National Student Clearinghouse indicates that enrollment levels at community colleges across the country have leveled off after historic increases starting in 2008. However, SCCC's enrollment continues to climb.

SCCC is well ahead of its enrollment projections, with 6.5% increases in the number of credits taken and FTEs, the latter used to determine state-aid funding. While full-time enrollment is up 2.7%, the bulk of the increase is in part-time enrollment, which is 6.3%, not including the additional College in the High School students. Overall, there are 4.2% more students on campus compared to last spring. The transformative College in the High School program has increased by 250 students.

The numbers follow an approximately 2% rise in enrollment in Fall 2011, an increase that also exceeded expectations after historic flooding closed down the school for a week as classes were about to begin, and pushed SCCC past 7000 students for the first time in its history.

One of the 30 community colleges in the State University of New York system, the nation's largest comprehensive system of higher education, Schenectady County Community College in upstate New York enrolls over 7,000 students. SCCC offers more than 40 career degree, transfer degree and certificate programs. The College opened its doors for classes in 1969 and continues to provide affordable comprehensive higher education and adult educational opportunities in response to local educational needs. To learn more, visit www.sunysccc.edu.