Tuition hike, tobacco ban on college agenda

NORTH PLATTE -- The Mid-Plains Community College Board of Governors will decide whether to increase tuition as well as make the campus tobacco free, at its regular meeting Wednesday at North Platte Community College, 6:30 p.m., in Room 200 at the Wood Building.

Prior to this meeting, the board will meet at 4 p.m., in the same location for a work session to discuss the first draft of the budget, including tuition and fees information, and the tobacco-free policy.

President Michael Chipps has recommended raising tuition by $2 per semester credit hour, a 2.53 percent increase.

The last time the board raised tuition and fees was at its July meeting, with a 6.76 increase.

The board will also consider approving a tobacco-free policy, that will make all the facilities and properties owned or leased by MPCC tobacco-free.

This is the second time the board has considered the policy. At its July 2007 meeting, a tobacco-free policy was turned down by 9-2 and board members cited the difficulty of enforcing it.

Currently, smoking is prohibited in all buildings and college vehicles but is allowed outside. Chewing tobacco is allowed on campus.

Other items the board will be asked to approve include:

* to rescind its Jan. 2004 action where policy governance was identified as the form of governance and to retain the traditional board of governance.

* approve the "Blackboard" technology software at the cost of $57,180. The college is required to either update or select another system.

The board will also convene in closed session to discuss personnel issues.