No Tuition Hike at Eastern Florida for Fourth Straight Year

No tuition hike for students, budgeted salary increases for full-time faculty, a cost of living payment for staff, and pay increases for adjunct faculty are key features in Eastern Florida State College’s new fiscal year budget.

The college’s Board of Trustees unanimously approved the approximately $75 million plan for the 2015-2016 fiscal year Monday. The budget takes effect July 1.

Key budget provisions include:

• No tuition increase for the fourth straight year, a period that corresponds with Dr. Jim Richey’s time as president.
Tuition will remain at $78.84 per credit hour and per credit fees will also remain the same at $25.16 per credit hour for Florida residents.

The total for tuition and fees will remain at $104 per credit hour for lower division courses for Florida residents, which is in line with other state colleges in Central Florida.

The total per credit hour for upper division courses for Florida residents will remain unchanged from fiscal year 2014-2015 at $128.51.

"Holding the line and not raising tuition and fees is critical to the success of our students and I'm pleased that the trustees accepted my recommendation in approving our 2015-2016 budget," said President Richey.

• Salary increases for full-time faculty are budgeted for the upcoming 2015-2016 fiscal year.

The college and UFF - Brevard Chapter union negotiators reached tentative agreement regarding salary increases for the upcoming fiscal year with the budget set to include a 2.5% pay increase for full-time faculty effective upon EFSC Board of Trustee and union membership approval at the conclusion of the collective bargaining process.

• A cost of living payment for all non-probationary full-time staff except the president, and non-probationary regular part-time staff.

Full-time staff will receive a $1,000 lump sum payment (less appropriate withholdings) and regular part-time staff will receive $500 (less appropriate withholdings) in July of the upcoming fiscal year.

This is the third year since 2012 that college staff employees will see either salary increases or cost of living payments. They received the same lump sum cost of living payment last year.

• Adjunct pay increases are included in the budget. Adjunct faculty compensation will rise 2 percent beginning this fall and is on top of the 4 percent increase they received in last year's budget.

"I want to thank the board of trustees for accepting my recommendation for providing increases for full-time and part-time faculty and staff,” said Dr. Richey.

“It's extremely important that we continue to invest in the best college workforce in Florida. It's my honor to lead these outstanding and dedicated colleagues that care so deeply about the success of our students."