Before classes were suspended at St. Clair County Community College due to the COVID-19 outbreak, trustees okayed a tuition rate hike. Starting in the fall, SC4 tuition rates will increase by nearly 3.9%. Board of Trustees President Dr. Nicholas DeGrazia says the rate hike is in accordance with inflation and other colleges of similar size. “As a matter of policy, we have taken the position of that it’s better off making smaller incremental increases annually,” said DeGrazia. “Some schools take the position of holding tuition for one year, maybe two, and then they have to come out in the second or third year with a huge increase.” The tuition hike will result in about $5 extra per contact hour for in district students. The rates remains frozen for out of district and out of state students, as well as high school students who are dual enrolled. The will take effect for the fall 2020 semester.
St. Clair County Community College Trustees say they’re happy with the performance of Dr. Deborah Snyder, so much so that she will be receiving a bump in salary. Snyder will receive a $25,000 increase in base salary this year, as approved earlier this month by trustees. “She’s doing a fantastic job,” Board President Dr. Nicholas DeGrazia told WPHM when asked about Snyder. “The board is very, very pleased with all of the things that have been created under her leadership.” DeGrazia went on to site the SC4 Field House, residence hall, and health sciences center as example. Snyder was first hired in 2016 with a salary of approximately $161,000. DeGrazia says this would be the first increase in compensation for the college president. Both the tuition rate hike and the increase in Snyder’s salary were approved at the Board of Trustees meeting March 12th.
