Holland College students on the fence with tuition increase

By Bo Ford

Holland College announced yesterday they would be increasing it tuition costs for all full-time students next year.

The increase will be $200 to $250, the college hasn’t had an increase since 1998. The tuition increase is one of a series of measures that included targeted reductions, across the board cuts to departmental budgets, and the suspensions of two programs.

Eddie Zhakata who will be the Holland College Student Union president for 2012 said no student is ever happy with a tuition increase.

“Most students are okay with it. The increase isn’t all that much, and we haven’t had a tuition increase in over 14 years.”

The announcement came just days after the college announced a cut of two full-time programs for next year.

Dr. Brian McMillian, president of Holland College said in a press release, the current fiscal climate has required the college to make some difficult decisions.

“We have undergone a systematic review of all expenses and revenues. We have employed a balanced approach to cost reduction and revenue generation to ensure that our students continue to have access to the excellent learning environment to which they have become accustomed.”

 Holland College has several tuition levels. The majority of its program tuitions fall into three primary bands that vary from $3,250 to $5,500 per year.

Zhakata said they received no warning of either the course cancellations or the increase in tuition

“They told us there were going to be some changes made, but never specified what moves they were planning to make.”

Zhakata hasn’t had a meeting with the management of Holland College yet to figure out what other changes may come to not only the college but Student Union as well.

“Now that most of the changes have been implemented, we will meet with management and find out what changes are possible, and what we can do with the tuition increase,” said Zhakata.