AVC: Students should expect higher fall fees

This story appeared in the Antelope Valley Press
Thursday, July 2, 2009.

Valley Press

LANCASTER - Antelope Valley College is telling students to expect a 30% increase in enrollment fees for fall semester as the result of action by state legislative leaders, a college spokesman said Wednesday.

College officials were informed Wednesday morning that a deal had been agreed to among key state leaders to increase enrollment fees for California residents from $20 to $26 per unit, said Steve Sanderfer, the college's director of public and governmental relations.

For a students taking 15 units, a standard course load, that would increase the enrollment fee from $300 to $390 a semester.

With student registration beginning Monday for fall semester classes, AVC officials enacted the change, Standerfer said.

"There are many elements of the budget that have yet to be determined. However, the one thing that has been made clear to us is there will be an increase in fees to $26 a unit," President Jackie L. Fisher said in an announcement Wednesday.

California lawmakers have been working to revise a budget they approved in February as tax revenues have continued to plunge and accounting maneuvers have failed to address a growing state deficit.

State officials estimate that California is $24.3 billion short of what it needs to maintain current spending levels.

Antelope Valley College officials noted that only 2% of the enrollment fees actually stay with the college; the remainder is returned to the state.

"A number of people have misconceptions about the fees we collect. We don't set the fee rate and most of the money goes back to the state," Fisher said.

The college's fall semester begins Aug. 24.