The Colorado Mountain College Board of Trustees met Jan. 25 at the college’s Vail Valley campus in Edwards for a community meet-and-greet, a regular board meeting, and two work sessions – one on capital projects, and the other on tuition and fees.
Following the work session on tuition and fees, which included presentations by college leadership on projected administrative cost savings and a sustained commitment to provide financial aid to needy students, the trustees voted to approve increases in five tuition rates for 2017-18: in-district associate-level courses by $3/credit, service area associate-level courses by $20/credit, in-state associate-level courses by $20/credit, and non-resident associate- and bachelor’s-level courses by $11/credit.
All other bachelor’s tuition rates will see a $0 increase again next year. Even with these tuition increases, the college remains among the most affordable in the state, and offers in-district residents the third-most affordable bachelor’s degree in the country.
The board also voted that room and board can increase next year by not more than 5 percent and approved course and program fees for bike mechanic, chemistry, process technology, oil and gas production, personal care assistant, industrial electrical, solar photovoltaic and welding.
Trustees directed staff to commence definitive negotiations with the Town of Breckenridge for the possible acquisition of a 30-unit housing project, for student and employee housing. For the past year and a half, CMC has been engaged in conversations with the Town of Breckenridge regarding its “Block 11” development. The town is constructing the project on land immediately adjacent to the Breckenridge campus.
Trustees also approved a resolution that is intended to refinance its existing certificates of participation and issue new COPs to finance capital projects at the college’s locations in Aspen, Spring Valley and Breckenridge.