Board Approves No Change to Tuition Rate for Upcoming School Year

For immediate release- February 27, 2014
Texarkana College administration recommended no change in tuition rate and mandatory fees for the 2014-2015 academic school year at the Board of Trustees meeting this morning.  This makes Texarkana College one of the most affordable options for higher education in Texas, aligning it with peer institutions across the state.  Texarkana College tuition and fees for an in-district student taking 12 semester credit hours (SCH) in fall 2014 will pay $940 as compared to the state average for community colleges of $926 for 12 SCH. (Please see Exhibit 1-Cost Comparison Chart.)

“One mission of Texarkana College is to provide affordable quality education programs for our students and the communities we serve.  Historically, the amount Texarkana College charged for tuition and fees was below many of our peer institutions,” said Kim Jones, Vice President of Finance and CFO. “Over the past two years, administration made adjustments to help align the tuition and fees to our peer institutions. After a thorough review of current student charges, the administration is pleased to recommend no change for the tuition and mandatory fees for the upcoming school year. TC’s tuition and fees will remain affordable and in-line with the rates charged by our peer institutions.”

The approved tuition and fee changes included a limited number of incidental and course fees for the upcoming year. One change is an increase in the late registration fee from a current $30 fee to a $100 fee per term.

“We encourage students to take advantage of early registration and meet with advisors before long lines begin to form toward the end of registration,” Jones said. “It is a win-win situation when students have adequate time to make sure their financial aid documentation is in, their admission status is current, and classes are still available that meet their busy schedule. We hope to avoid assessing this fee often but believe this may prompt students to plan earlier for their college career.”

In other business, the Board of Trustees approved the administration’s recommendation  to extend the College’s ability to award Credit for Prior Learning (CPL) and include credit for professional and industry certifications that align with an approved college course at Texarkana College. Prior learning is a term used to describe learning gained outside a traditional academic environment. It encompasses learning and knowledge a person acquires while living their lives: working, participating in employer training programs, serving in the military, or studying independently. A student may be able to earn credit for a specific class at Texarkana College without enrolling in it if they meet certain qualifications.

“Texarkana College already awards credit for CLEP tests, AP exams, International Baccalaureate Exams, and assessment by local exam,” said Vernon Wilder, Dean of Academics. “We also transcript some courses from the military’s Joint Service Transcripts as well as the Community College of the Air force. However, with approval from the board, Texarkana College will offer credit to students who hold current industry and professional certifications or who have mastered a skill or competency through the completion of a nationally recognized professional exam.”

To qualify, a student must contact the appropriate division chair during his/her first term at Texarkana College and provide direct evidence of a current certification or license.  For example, a student with a current certified nursing assistant certificate from Texas or Arkansas may apply for prior learning credit for NURA 1301 and NURA 1160.  A faculty committee in the discipline will determine if and how much credit to award for a specific certification. The determination of awarded credit will be based on the American Council of Education recommendations and a review of student records. The student must submit a Prior Learning Credit Application along with a $50 non-refundable application fee to the TC Business Office. If the faculty committee determines to award credit, the student will pay an amount equal to the tuition charged for the similar amount of credit if a student took a face-to-face class.

“Credit for prior learning awarded at Texarkana College may not be applicable to certificates or degrees at other colleges or universities,” Wilder said.  “A student who intends to transfer to another college or university should consult with a transfer advisor at that institution concerning the transferability of Texarkana College prior learning credit.”

 

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Exhibit 1- Cost Comparisons based on 12 SCH at state institutions of higher education (2013 data).

Source- TACC and Institutional websites.            

For more information contact:

Suzy Irwin

Director of Institutional Advancement

Texarkana College

Suzanne.irwin@texarkanacollege.edu

903-823-3095- office/903-244-1153- cell