Two per cent tuition hike at CNC in September

College of New Caledonia students will be paying more next year.

On Friday the college’s board of governors adopted the 2017-18 budget, which includes a two per cent tuition increase.

A release from the college says increasing “operational costs needed to be addressed.”

During 2016/2017, CNC fees for full-time students were just above $2,600 a year – below the provincial weighted average of $2,900. The increase will add approximately $130,000 to the base operating budget, according to the release.

The college continues to look for ways to help reduce overall student financial burden. It will continue to develop and expand the number of courses offered through the digital delivery instruction initiative.
Since the 2015 fall semester, 679 students have taken 25 courses offered through the initiative. There are currently two classrooms equipped with the required technology on the Prince George campus, in addition to another two classrooms in Quesnel.

All CNC campuses have been equipped and plans continue to expand program delivery in Vanderhoof, Burns Lake and Fort St. James throughout the 2017/2018 academic year.

“We are encouraged by the initial feedback that we are getting on our digital delivery instruction initiative from both students and faculty,” said CNC president Henry Reiser. “Our plans to expand access to this technology and increase capacity will allow students to enjoy courses not previously available in their communities, allowing them to study closer to home.”

The board also voted in favour of a tuition fee increase for the new version of the dental hygiene program returning in the fall of 2017.

“We are committed to delivering on our promise to bring dental hygiene back to North Central B.C. and the board’s approval of the suggested tuition fee is one of the last formal steps in this process,” said Reiser.