Parkland Trustees Approve Tuition Freeze, Policy Updates

Board of Trustees general meeting, February 17, 2021

Parkland College plans to keep next year's base tuition rates the same as 2020-2021.

At its regular meeting Wednesday, the Parkland College Board of Trustees announced that effective summer session 2021, Parkland's in-district rates will remain at $148.50 per credit hour (all Tier One courses) through the 2021-2022 academic year. This recommendation followed the annual Budget Workshop for Parkland Trustees led by Chief Financial Officer Christopher Randles.

"Parkland is an outstanding value, offering substantial return on investment for students ready to take the next step in their academic journey or career path," said President Ramage. "Holding our tuition rates flat for this upcoming year demonstrates our commitment to remaining affordable and competitive, particularly during this challenging time. We are making this possible through tight fiscal management and with unanimous support from our Board of Trustees."

The board also approved new changes to the Policy and Procedures Manual, as presented at its last meeting by the Parkland College Association. Policies updated include 3.01 (Federal Title IX Law) and 9.07 (Sabbatical policy).

In other business, trustees approved:

• the 2021-2022 Course Fee Schedule

• a memorandum of understanding between Parkland College, the Illinois Community College Board, and District 505 schools for a dual-credit program fee structure

• the purchase of:

  • ALEKS PPL testing units from McGraw-Hill Global Education Holdings LLC, $60,000

• the filing of the following grant applications:

  • Illinois Department of Commerce & Economic Opportunity (DCEO): Manufacturing Training Academies

• acceptance of funds from external sources:

  • National Science Foundation (NSF): Scholarships in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (S-STEM)

  • U.S. Department of Education: CARES Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF): Emergency Financial Aid Grants to Students (CRRSAA allocation)

  • U.S. Department of Education: CARES Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF): Institutional Portion (CRRSAA allocation)

• personnel appointments:

  • Julia Hawthorne, Director of Advising Services, Advising Services

  • Joshua Houston, Building Systems Lead, Physical Plant

  • Cindy Reynolds, Administrative Assistant, Health Professions