No Tuition Hike at EFSC for Seventh Straight Year

No tuition hike for students for the seventh straight year, pay increases for full-time and adjunct faculty, and a cost-of-living payment for staff.

Those are among the main features in Eastern Florida State College’s 2018-19 fiscal year budget, which the college’s Board of Trustees unanimously approved Monday.

The $77 million plan goes into effect July 1.

“This budget continues to prioritize our students, faculty and staff along with our community in ways that will keep us on the road to tremendous success for years to come,” said college President Dr. Jim Richey.

Key elements of the budget include:

• No tuition or per credit fee increase for the seventh straight year, a period that corresponds with the time that Richey has been Eastern Florida’s president.

“It is critically important that we stay highly affordable for our students,” said Richey.

“With no tuition increase for the seventh year in a row, it is more likely students will be able to afford to take the courses they need to graduate and begin their careers. This fact is paramount in my mind.”

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

The per credit hour charge for upper division courses for Florida residents will remain $128.51, which is similar to other institutions in the 28-member Florida College System of which Eastern Florida is a member.

• An increase to base salary and per hour overload compensation representing an approximate overall total dollar increase of 2.5 percent over the previous year for full-time faculty members of the United Faculty of Florida EFSC Chapter as part of a tentative new collective bargaining agreement.

Negotiations on a final three-year agreement continue with the UFF potentially holding a ratification vote in August.

Separately, non-union adjunct faculty will receive a 2 percent pay increase, their third raise in the past five years for a total 8 percent hike during that time.

• A one-time $500 cost-of-living payment to full-time staff and one-time $250 cost-of-living payment to part-time staff.

The college will also pay expected 2018-19 health and dental insurance premium increases for faculty and staff with no additional contributions expected from them, saving each full-time employee about $1,000 in higher premium costs next year.

Richey noted the total health and dental insurance expense to the college per full time employee is $8,491, making it “a very significant benefit many other employers simply do not provide.”

• Fully funds all college programs, including the more than 40 new programs started the past six years, including nearly 20 Bachelor’s Degree tracks.

• Invests $19.2 million in ongoing projects, including completing construction of a new Student Union on the Melbourne campus and college-wide improvements to classrooms, other facilities, technology and parking.

• Reduces spending $2.37 million through various areas within the college.

About 20,000 students take classes on Eastern Florida’s Titusville, Cocoa, Melbourne and Palm Bay campuses, and online. The college offers more than 100 degrees and programs, many in today’s fast-growing career fields of Health Care, Business and Computer Technology.

For more information, visit easternflorida.edu