No tuition increase for students for the 11th straight year and pay raises for faculty and staff are among the key parts of the new fiscal year budget at Eastern Florida State College.
The $82.6 million plan for Fiscal Year 2022-23 was unanimously approved Monday by the college’s Board of Trustees. It goes into effect July 1.
The budget comes as the college emerges from the COVID-19 pandemic, resuming all normal operations and focusing on more growth in the coming years.
“I’m confident this budget will accomplish our mission and keep us on sound fiscal footing. It’s a reliable roadmap for our continued success,” said EFSC President Dr. Jim Richey.
Key elements of the budget include:
• No tuition increase for students for the 11th straight year, which corresponds to the time Richey has been EFSC’s president.
The total for tuition and general fees will remain $104 per credit hour for lower division courses for Florida residents.
The per credit hour charge for upper division courses for Florida residents will remain $128.51, which is similar to other institutions in the 28-member Florida College System of which Eastern Florida is a member.
“For more than a decade, keeping tuition low has clearly benefited our students in their pursuit of a higher education and is something I’m particularly proud of as president,” said Richey.
• A 2-percent raise plus $750 for each faculty member in the second year of a three-year collective bargaining agreement with the United Faculty of Florida Brevard Chapter.
Faculty will also receive a 2.5 percent pay increase related to overload instruction.
“Our faculty have been nothing short of superb throughout the pandemic, doing everything possible to ensure students receive personalized attention and an excellent educational. They are the very best,” said Richey.
Adjunct faculty will also receive an additional 3-percent raise in compensation for each class they teach.
• A 3-percent pay increase in base salary for all full-time and regular part-time non-probationary staff, the second straight year they have received a 3-percent pay hike.
Staff will start seeing the additional money in their July paychecks.
The college will also continue paying 100 percent of the premium cost for their base individual health plans, which Richey said was “essential to stay competitive in today’s job market.”
“Despite all the challenges they have faced, our staff have stood tall and never wavered in their service to students. They are an outstanding group of professionals,” said Richey.
The budget fully funds all academic programs and includes cost savings such as not filling unneeded vacant positions.
The budget benefited from nearly $5.3 million in additional funds above last year’s appropriation from the Florida Legislature.
Original source can be found here.
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