During its regular board meeting on Wednesday, April 17, 2024, John Wood Community College Board of Trustees voted to freeze in-district tuition and online tuition rates.
JWCC’s current tuition rates inclusive of universally assessed fees for in-district and online instruction will remain the same for the 2024-25 academic year. Per credit hour cost will hold at $170 for in-district students and $200 for online courses. Due to changes in adjacent community college district out-of-district tuition rates, JWCC is required by the Illinois Community College Board to increase its out-of-district per credit hour rate inclusive of universally assessed fees from $280 to $290 for the next year.
Trustee’s approval to freeze in-district and online tuition was informed by a recent Trellis Student Financial Wellness Survey. The nationwide survey documents the financial well-being of post-secondary students to provide institutions with a detailed profile of financial issues their students face, some of which could potentially impact their success in college.
“The recent Trellis survey showed that the obstacles preventing college completion for JWCC students are often outside of the classroom, with the number one barrier being financial,” JWCC President Dr. Bryan Renfro shared. “This is why we will do all we can to keep tuition rates as low as possible to ensure students from all economic backgrounds can see a path to a career that helps them fulfill their hopes and dreams.”
Renfro shared that affordable tuition is just one piece of the financial puzzle for JWCC students. Thirty-five percent of JWCC students surveyed last fall said they faced additional financial concerns including affordable housing, childcare, and food.
“Keeping tuition affordable is the first step,” he said. “Even with the lowest tuition rate around, additional scholarships and community resources are needed for today’s students, which is why we started the Pathways to Promise Scholarship Drive. We need more sources of support to help current and future students enter and complete college so they can join or increase their contribution to the workforce and improve their quality of life.”
The Board conducted its reorganization of officers as part of the meeting. Trustees voted to elect Bob Rhea of Camp Point as chair of the Board, Andy Sprague of Kinderhook as vice chair and Paula Hawley of Griggsville as secretary. The Board’s Executive Committee will consist of Rhea, Sprague, and Hawley. Larry Fischer of Quincy and Angela Greger of Pittsfield will serve on the Finance and Audit Committee. Dr. Randy Greenwell of Quincy will serve as JWCC’s Representative to the Illinois Community College Trustees Association and Don Hess of Quincy will serve as the ICCTA alternate representative.
Trustees also recognized the incoming Student Trustee and newly elected Student Government Association leaders for the 2024-2025 Academic Year.
Kannon Dickerman of Quincy was selected by JWCC’s student body and took the Oath of Office as the College’s new Student Trustee, succeeding Kaydence Gregory of Bluffs.
JWCC Coordinator of Student Life Eric Foster introduced the newly elected Student Government Association Officers for the 2024-2025 academic year who include the following: Cole Pracht of Camp Point, president; Travis Duke of Liberty, vice president; Carter Kasparie of Mendon, secretary; and Alayna Schmoe of Quincy, public relations secretary.
In other business, Trustees:
Accepted $100,000 in grant funding from the Illinois Community College Board for a non-credit workforce training initiative. Funding will allow the Workforce Development Center to develop and teach no cost noncredit training programs that lead to credit-based certificates to meet needs identified by industry employers.
Approved submission of a $285,000 grant application to the Illinois Community College Board for an Adult Education and Literacy grant. If approved, the grant would provide funding for instruction and support services to create pathways for adult learners to obtain a high school equivalency credential and employable skills and help English language learners with reading, writing, speaking, and math skills.
Approved submission of a $89,164 grant application to the Illinois State Library/Secretary of State Literacy Office for training and coordination of volunteer tutors to assist adult learners with English proficiency.
Approved a fee range up to $100 per credit hour for the Maintenance Machining Fundamentals (MFG 131) course to cover expenses associated with steel and machinery maintenance. Trustees set the current course fee within the range to $40 for upcoming academic year.
Approved a fee range up to $30 per credit hour for the Electrical Troubleshooting (ELE 115) course to cover expenses associated with lab supplies and materials. Trustees set the current course fee within the range to $10 for upcoming academic year.
Accepted the $46,596 sole proposal from Gerber Tours for a multi-day Upward Bound Program travel experience including cultural and educational components. Upward Bound is a federally funded TRiO grant program and the tour will be for first-generation students and chaperones from the region.
The next meeting will be held Wednesday, May 22, at 6:00 p.m. at the JWCC Quincy campus.
