Trustees Vote For Tuition Freeze, Debt Forgiveness Plan

Trustees approve Cobra Comeback program, freeze tuition rates

Parkland College plans to keep next year's base tuition rates at the same level as 2019-2020 and will offer encumbered students up to $2,000 of debt forgiveness through a new initiative. 

Parkland in-district rates will remain at $148.50 per credit hour (all Tier One courses) for the 2020-2021 academic year, the Parkland College Board of Trustees announced at its regular meeting Wednesday. Parkland President Tom Ramage made the recommendation not to increase tuition rates based on a careful analysis of projected revenues and expenditures.

State decreases in funding over the past several years had put increasing pressure on student tuition to make up the difference, concerning the Board. Administrators say recent measures put in place to reduce costs make it possible to hold the tuition rate steady for the coming academic year.

Along with freezing tuition rates for next year, the Board of Trustees has approved a new debt forgiveness program, called Cobra Comeback, which will allow returning students a chance to restart their education at Parkland by removing financial holds preventing registration. For each course in which these returning students earn a C or higher, the cost of current tuition per credit hour will be removed from their past-due balance, according to Dean of Enrollment Management Kristin Smigielski. Eligibility for the Cobra Comeback program also includes:

• good academic standing 

• debt of no more than $2,000

• non-enrollment at Parkland during the past academic year

"With Cobra Comeback, Parkland College continues its mission to engage the community in learning by ensuring that all students have a second chance at completing an academic credential," Smigielski said. "We want to provide maximum access to the training and transfer programs available here, to enrich the lives of students and their families."

Potential program participants must complete an eligibility form. Find it and more information about the program at parkland.edu/cobracomeback. 

In other business, the Board also approved:

• the extension of the Lease Agreement with the State of Illinois CMS (IDES and IDHS) to extend the term through February 28, 2025.

• the purchase of 4,000 ALEKS PPL testing units from McGraw-Hill, $60,000. 

• the following personnel appointments:

  • Lauren Craig, Purchasing Agent, Business Office

  • Elizabeth Horne, Assistant Teacher, Child Development Center

  • Barry Pelmore, Custodian, Physical Plant

  • Kennedy Potempa, Assistant, Accessibility Services

  • Molly Rittenhouse, CTE Perkins program manager, Career and Technical Education

  • Kenyatta Ruff, Custodian, Physical Plant