Students at Ulster Community College in Stone Ridge may be paying slightly more for the upcoming school year, but college President Donald Katt pledged to keep costs affordable and brought the school”™s 2010-2011 budget to Ulster lawmakers, who passed it with a 1 percent spending increase.
The college”™s $28.6 million budget was passed by the county Legislature June 15. That amount represents maintaining faculty, staff, equipment and facilities at levels needed to offer nearly 60 college programs, Katt told the Legislature prior to its vote. The college”™s academic budget begins on Sept. 1.
Tuition for full-time study is expected to increase approximately $100 a semester to $3,820 per year. Part time tuition will increase by $5 to $140 per credit hour.
No increase was asked for from Ulster County: Its commitment is to remain at $6.2 million. State base aid has been reduced to $2,545 per funded full time enrolled student. State aid comprises 24 percent of the College”™s budget, while the County”™s contribution comprises 25 percent; tuition accounts for 37 percent of the school”™s budget.
Katt told legislators that in times of recession, student enrollment invariably increases at community colleges. The College is expecting the trend to continue at least through the 2011 spring semester with a 1 percent projected increase. UCC is expecting to see a surge in the upcoming school year.
“This budget enables us to do what we do best ”“ provide high quality, accessible higher education to the residents and employers of Ulster County ”“ while managing expenses in a fiscally prudent manner,” Katt said in a prepared statement.
With SUNY New Paltz eliminating its nursing program SUNY Ulster”™s program is expecting to see an uptick in interest in its own nursing program. An information session on UCC”™s nursing program will be held on campus Thursday, July 8, at 3 p.m.
For those interested in learning the skill sets required for today”™s “green” jobs, UCC offers certification in energy management and has classes on PV (photo voltaic) panel installation.
SUNY Ulster has an extension center in the same building with New York State”™s Small Business Development Center in the city of Kingston.
