Brookdale Officials Approve a 2.53% Tuition Decrease

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LINCROFT – Brookdale officials voted last night to approve the College’s proposed 2013 budget, which includes a 2.53% decrease in tuition rates, effective July 1, 2012.
“In developing the budget for fiscal year 2013, we focused on one overarching principle – access and affordability for our students. The continuing economic crises and its influence on state and local resources have impacted all of us – including our students and their parents. We have found ways to increase efficiency, control expenditures and reduce our operating costs substantially and we, therefore, have a fiduciary responsibility to pass these savings on to our students,” says Dr. William Toms, Interim President, Brookdale Community College.
The $3 per credit reduction in tuition will lower the rate from $118.50 to $115.50 per credit hour, to a maximum of $1732 per semester. General service fees, which are 24% of the tuition rate, will decrease to $27.72 per credit hour. Students will see the cost savings starting with the Summer III Term, which begins July 9.
“We are pleased with the changes employed by Dr. Toms and his executive leadership team that have resulted in increased productivity and reduced costs. The installation of new energy efficient equipment in the Utility Plant, for example, resulted in a $1.4M cost savings for the College. In the aggregate, savings like these impact the bottom line and, for the next fiscal year, have provided an opportunity to make the quality education available at Brookdale even more affordable,” says Josh Elkes, chair, Brookdale Board of Trustees.
The $95,706,289 operating budget consists of 51% in tuition and fees, 22.4% anticipated County support, 11.2% anticipated State support and 15.4% from other sources and will be presented at the Monmouth County Board of School Estimate (BOSE) hearing, scheduled for February 23, for approval. The BOSE committee consists of three members of the Monmouth County Board of Chosen Freeholders and two members of Brookdale’s Board of Trustees.
Other recent decisions by the College’s administration to provide students with additional resources include free access to the newly renovated Fitness Center and free smoking cessation programs to help students adjust to Brookdale’s tobacco-free environment.