ESCANABA - The Bay College Board of Trustees met recently to approve the 2012-13 operating budget and tuition costs for the coming academic year. Tuition rates in Delta County will rise from $97 per contact hour, to $99.
According to Bay College President Laura Coleman, the college has seen a 3.6 percent increase in state appropriations this year and health insurance costs have gone down. However, Bay College is anticipating an increase in its Michigan Public School Employees Retirement System (MPSERS) costs.
"MPSERS costs are going up almost 3 percent for fiscal year 2013 to 27.37 percent," explained Coleman.
She said the college's full-time faculty contract this coming year will give faculty a 6 percent increase, which includes a step increase.
The board voted to approve the 2012-13 operating budget, as the budgets for higher education must be approved by June 30. The college's revenue is driven by tuition and fees, enrollment, and state appropriations. The overall expenditures of the college's budget have been decreased to match expected revenue, explained Coleman's executive administrative assistant Laura Johnson. No layoffs were made to achieve this.
In addition, the board approved raising Delta County tuition rates from $97 per contact hour to $99 per contact hour for the fiscal year 2013 academic year.
"The board of trustees is committed to keeping Bay College tuition rates at the lowest possible level to ensure affordable access to college for all our students," said Coleman.
Coleman noted Bay College is also committed to implementing many sustainablity initiatives.
"To that end, this year we have replaced lights across the campus, saving over 97,000 kWh per year, which is equivalent to taking 17 cars off the road or planting 290 trees, and represents 193,103 pounds of carbon dioxide not released into the environment to produce additional electrical power," she said.
According to her, total project costs are paid back in one year with the new lights having a life span of five to 10 years.
In other business, the board:
accepted the resignation of Barb Walden, director of Workforce Development.
accepted the retirement of Shipping & Receiving Operations Clerk Sue Young.
approved Innovative Communications, Inc. as the vendor to install replacement/upgrades for classroom projectors and screens on both the Escanaba and Bay West campuses.