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Board Approves Financing

The Joliet Junior College Board of Trustees approved funding options that will dramatically alter the look of the college while enhancing and providing new services to students and the community.

Plans to make the first sweeping physical changes to the college since 1974 will now become a reality since the JJC Board of Trustees unanimously approved the master plan.

At its Tuesday meeting, trustees approved a $9 capital assessment fee per credit hour that will fund $159 million of JJC's $220 million master plan if the fee is implemented over four years. The board also approved the measure to seek voter approval of an $89 million building bond referendum at the November general election. If the referendum passes, the college will be able to lower the capital assessment fee in subsequent years lessening the college's tuition.

The remaining approximately $61 million will be raised through not-for-profit, private and other funding options.

"We are pleased the Board of Trustees approved a master plan with financing options that emphasized shared responsibility between our students, taxpayers, and community partners," David Agazzi, vice president for administrative services, said. "This is a fiscally responsible plan that will vastly improve the infrastructure of Joliet Junior College and prepare us for the future."

Under this financial strategy, all facets of the community college district would benefit. These benefits to students and the community include:

• New and improved student services that include a centralized campus center to more efficiently serve students.
• New allied health programs and certificates including physical therapy assistant, dental assistant and dental hygiene.
• Eight new science labs.
• New culinary/hospitality facility at the City Center campus.
• Private and not for profit sectors would partner to build amenities for students, which could include a partnership with the local YMCA to produce a 100,000 square foot facility that would comprise a larger fitness center, competition-sized fields and gymnasiums and family programs.

Physical improvements to the college include:

• New campus center at the front of campus that consolidates all student services, the library, and administration in one location.
• Total renovation of all classrooms including new technology, furniture, painting and flooring.
• Construction of a new Nursing/Allied Health building on the Main Campus.
• Additional parking at Main Campus—approximately 1,610 new spaces.

"For the first time in many years, students should be excited about the focus that is being brought to bear on their learning environment," Dr. Gena Proulx, JJC president, said. "Today's learning occurs both in and out of the classroom and JJC will be able to afford its students the opportunity to learn anywhere on campus."

The college's board also approved a $3 per credit hour tuition and fee increase for fall 2008 to fund FY2009 budget requests, which include investments in the areas of enrollment management, recruiting, financial aid, and counseling, as well as a student ID project and an intramural program.

Measures approved at the meeting will bring the fall 2008 tuition to $88 per credit hour. Despite the increase, JJC continues to be an affordable option when it comes to obtaining a quality education.

JJC's proposed annual tuition increase for FY2009 of $2,640 per year (30 credit hours) still places the college in the middle of its peer group, which includes the College of DuPage, Harper, Lake County, Oakton, Moraine Valley, and Triton. JJC currently ranks 22 out of 39 community college districts in Illinois for tuition and fees.

Tuition at JJC in FY2009 ($2,640) is still considerably less than:

• the average cost of one year at an Illinois public university at $8,196
• the average cost of one year at an Illinois private university at $19,132.

"With high quality programs and low tuition it should come as no surprise that, year after year, JJC is the college of choice for thousands of district residents," Ryan Smith, vice president of institutional advancement and research, said.