LUMBERTON — Students attending Robeson Community College may soon be paying more for tuition, the college’s president told the board of trustees on Monday.

Pamela Hilbert said that students could see a $4 increase in what they now pay for each credit hour of study if the increase is approved in the state budget now being finalized by state legislators in Raleigh. The increase would affect students at all of the state’s community colleges.

According to Hilbert, in-state students currently pay $72 for each credit hour they pursue at RCC. Hilbert said that students are being billed at the current hourly rate, but are being notified that they could see their bills increase $4 per credit hour later in the year.

“The House and Senate budget proposals both include the $4 per hour increase, ” Hilbert said. “What has not been agreed upon is how the increase should be implemented. The House wants all of the four-dollar increase in the first year of the biennial budget, while the Senate wants to phase in the four-dollar increase in by $2 the first year of the budget and $2 in second year.”

In other business, the board on Monday elected Sammy Cox as its new chairman. Cox, a board member for 16 years, replaces George Regan, whose term on the board expired. Regan served as an RCC trustee for 32 years.

Also, two new members joined the board Monday. They are John Armstrong, who was appointed by Gov. Pat McCrory, and Danny Stedman, who was appointed by the Public Schools of Robeson County. Cox, an appointee of the Robeson County Board of Commissioners, was also sworn-in for another term.

In other business, the trustees:

— Heard a brief report from RCC Vice President Channing Jones concerning the college’s firefighting training program. He said registration for courses in the program are up 7 percent. Jones told the trustees RCC is near the top of the state in the number of fire training certifications it issues each month.

— Approved the president’s annual objectives for the college.

— Approved student fees for fiscal year 2015-16.

— Were updated on improvements being made to make air conditioning immediately available in all buildings on the RCC campus.

— Approved several part-time and full-time staff appointments.

Sammy Cox Jr.
https://www.robesonian.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/web1_IMG_2605_cmyk.jpgSammy Cox Jr.

By Bob Shiles

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Bob Shiles can be reached at 910-416-5165.