DANVILLE – Danville Area Community College trustees on Tuesday will vote on whether to raise tuition for both in- and out-of-district students.

Under a proposal, in-district tuition would go from $79 per credit hour to $89, which would raise about $440,000 in addition revenue for the college. The universal fee for technology and activities would remain at $12. Out-of-district tuition – which out-of-state and international students also pay – would go from $150 per credit hour to $175, which would raise an additional $50,000.

If approved, the increases would take effect at the start of the summer session.

President Alice Jacobs said raising tuition is not something administrators or trustees want to do. However, she said, it's necessary in light of the uncertainty of state funding in the upcoming fiscal year.

"There's a certain level and quality of programs and services the community and students have come to expect, and we intend to provide that for them," Jacobs said, adding that the college is serving about 25 percent more students this spring than it did last year this time. "DACC continues to be a good value when you compare how much it would cost to go the first two years at a university, whether public or private."

In past years, tuition and fees, property taxes and state funding each have accounted for about one-third of DACC's operating budget revenues, Jacobs said.

"In 1994, the state was actually providing about 40 percent of our funds," she said. "Next year, we project the students will be providing about 40 percent, and the state will be providing only about 20 percent."

Chief Financial Officer Gail Morrison said the college was supposed to receive about $3.5 million in credit hour and equalization funding from the state in this fiscal year. It has received $2.3 million so far, and is still owed $1.4 million, although the state is only behind $432,000 in equalization money currently.

"At this point, they've told us not to expect any more money this fiscal year," Morrison said.

Meantime, Jacobs said, the college can borrow from its $4.4 million working cash fund to remain operational until the funding comes.

Also at the meeting, trustees will consider granting permission to obtain bids to replace the auto body shop paint booth and paint mixing areas with new units, which meet new Environmental Protection Agency standards.

They also will consider granting permission to obtain bids to replace the ornamental horticulture greenhouse, which is about 40 years old. Officials would like to replace it with an energy-efficient structure that's projected to reduce the annual heating costs by 65 percent, Jacobs said. She added the project is being funded by a private donor.

In addition, trustees will recognize outgoing student trustee Brittany West, whose last board meeting is Tuesday.

"We certainly appreciate her involvement," Jacobs said of the sophomore marketing major. "She's been at every meeting, she's always prepared, and she's done a phenomenal job."

An election for a new student trustee will be held in April, and the winner will be seated at the April 27 meeting.

Trustees meeting

The Danville Area Community College Board of Trustees will meet at 7 p.m. Tuesday. The meeting is in Vermilion Hall, Room 302, at the campus, 2000 E. Main St.

To learn more about DACC's board, its meetings and agendas, go to http://www.dacc.edu/board/meetings/.