March 16, 2009

Byrne will not recommend raising tuition at 2-year schools

PRESS RELEASE

MONTGOMERY – Chancellor Bradley Byrne announced last week he would not recommend tuition increases at Alabama's 26 community and technical colleges, the fifth year in a row that tuition has held steady at about $2,700 per year at these institutions.

“The Alabama Community College System remains committed to providing a quality, accessible and affordable higher education to Alabama citizens,” Byrne said March 12. “The financial crisis has touched us all, and Alabamians attending a community college for two years can save a great deal of money compared with four-year institutions and for-profit career colleges.”

Byrne said students at two-year colleges can also earn degrees and short-term certifications that qualify them for new careers in high-demand jobs.

"That is an important part of our mission, especially these days when so many workers are being laid off and need to retrain and get back into the workplace more quickly,” he said.

Byrne added that he continues to work closely with the Alabama Prepaid Affordable Tuition (PACT) Plan staff in the state treasurer's office to find ways the two-year college system can assist in overcoming its current financial obligations.

Byrne, appointed to the PACT board by virtue of being chancellor, has asked former Vice Chancellor for Finance Gene Murphree, an education finance expert, to come out of retirement and work directly with PACT staff in finding solutions to the current shortfall.

“We are not waiting until the PACT board meeting later this month to get involved," Byrne said. "Gene is in contact with PACT staff and other state leaders nearly every day and reporting back to me.”