Elgin Community College District 509 Board of Trustees approved measures to freeze tuition rates for the 2021-2022 academic year and provide taxpayer relief for the 2020 tax levy year during its December Board Meetings. The approved actions provide positive financial impacts for the district’s taxpayers and students and include the following:
“During this past year, we heard from our students and community members that financial pressures impacted their ability to pursue their educational goals successfully,” said board chair Donna Redmer, Ed.D. “These actions to freeze tuition and provide taxpayer relief directly respond to the financial realities of our district residents and our Board’s commitment to our mission of improving people’s lives through learning.”
The 2021-2022 academic year marks the fourth consecutive year that ECC has maintained a $132 per credit hour tuition rate for in-district students. The College had a four-year tuition freeze previously from 2007-2011. This tuition freeze is in response to ECC students’ financial strain during this unprecedented time.
“It is more important now than perhaps at any other time in our history to ensure attending ECC remains affordable,” said ECC President David Sam, Ph.D., J.D., LL.M. “Community colleges fulfill an invaluable role in the overall health of their communities. ECC is working diligently to provide exceptional educational opportunities for our students and continue as exemplary stewards of our residents’ support.”
Along with the tuition freeze, the Board of Trustees approved a no increase (or flat) 2020 tax levy as compared to the prior year tax extension. ECC presented a flat levy foregoing any increases allowed by the property tax extension limitation law (PTELL), as well as any increases due to new property. This action equates to approximately $1.6 million savings to district taxpayers. Additionally, the Board of Trustees approved a $1 million abatement of the 2020 debt service tax to further assist taxpayers.
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Contact: Rita Elliott
Senior Director of Communications
Office: 847-214-7682
Email: news@elgin.edu
Elgin Community College (ECC) is a comprehensive public community college, one of 48 statewide. ECC serves approximately 15,000 students each year. Programs of study include 25 major fields for university transfer, more than 130 career-oriented, occupational degrees and certificates, corporate and continuing education, and a full complement of pre-collegiate courses. The three-year graduation rate exceeds the national average and the average of peer colleges.
ECC NEWS MEDIA PROTOCOL
All members of the media should utilize the communications department as the first point of contact. The senior director of communications may be reached at 847-214-7682 or news@elgin.edu. All Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests must be submitted in writing to Marilyn Prentice, compliance officer, at mprentice@elgin.edu or via fax at 847-214-7375. This release is the official news head for Elgin Community College. Any information received on behalf of ECC not on this news head should be disregarded.