When it comes to the cost to pursue an education beyond high school, the news is not often great.
What’s The Point?
The leadership at NorthWest Arkansas Community College deserves praise for its careful budgeting for the next school year, keeping tuition and fees where they are.
For example, the average published tuition and fees at public two-year colleges grew by $110, or 3.5 percent, in 2013-14, according to the nonprofit College Board.
Our local two-year higher education institution, NorthWest Arkansas Community College, has gotten more expensive in recent years. Students there have seen fees or tuition go up year after year, joining students across the county in pondering whether higher education is still affordable.
That's why it was such great news last week when Evelyn Jorgenson, NWACC president, filed a 2014-15 balanced budget that doesn't anticipate increases in either tuition or fees. The college's board will consider the budget on Monday.
It's no easy task. Two-year colleges have seen declines in enrollments the last couple of years and the Bentonville-based community college is no stranger to that trend. As a result of such changes, Jorgenson's proposed $41.1 million budget is a $1.2 million decrease in spending over last year.
Jorgenson said no layoffs are "even on the drawing board," but evaluation of personnel positions will be made when someone leaves the college's employment.
This budget also does not rely on the college's reserve funds. One board member noted that Jorgenson is "making the most of available resources," and this budget appears to appreciate an effort to live with the college's means even at a time when more money would no doubt be welcome.
We appreciate the efforts of Jorgenson and her staff to recognize the reality facing not just the college, but the students it's there to educate. Hopefully, brighter economic days are ahead for the region, but for now, keeping tuition and fees in check is striking a good balance for all involved.
Maybe, just maybe, the state of Arkansas can one day get back to a serious effort to provide better support for public higher education than it's been capable of doing in recent years. For all the talk about education being a critical piece of the state's economic future, it only matters if financial backing follows the words.
National Cemetery Advocates Succeed, Again
Those who have served this nation know how difficult it can be to take new ground, to wrest control of a strategic area critical to the overall mission.
That also describes the work of the nonprofit Regional National Cemetery Improvement Corp., a group of people who advocate for the expansion of the National Cemetery in Fayetteville. This group recently acquired about 2 acres north of the existing cemetery, one more important step to ensure veterans can count on a final resting place in a facility designed to forever pay homage to their difference-making military service.
The remains of more than 7,000 veterans of battles from the Civil War forward are in this place of honor, which would eventually close due to space constraints without the voluntary efforts of the nonprofit group to raise money and negotiate the acquisition of property.
More donations are needed. If a contribution to preserve and expand this military burial ground is right for you, check out regncic.tripod.com.
Our thanks and respect to all who have honorably served our nation in the military.
Commentary on 04/11/2014