Raising student fees at Northwest College or decreasing the number of tuition-free credit-hours for full-time students are among measures being considered for raising revenue at the college.

The NWC Board of Trustees heard those proposals during a discussion about how the college could increase its income on Monday in light of declining state funding for Wyoming community colleges.

A reduction in Park County property tax revenue also is expected due to the county’s decrease in valuation, making the college’s predicted revenue downturn a double-whammy.

“We know we’re going to lose $1 (million) to $1.6 million on the local (mill) levy alone,” said Lisa Watson, NWC vice president for adminsitrative services.

A proposal before the board would increase the maximum number of hours students would be charged for from the current cap of 12 to a cap of 15 or 16 credit hours.

Currently, full-time NWC students are charged tuition for only 12 credit hours, no matter how many additional hours they sign up for. In other words, a student taking 18 credit hours pays the same tuition as a student who is enrolled in only 12 credit hours.

Previous boards have frowned on similar increases, but trustees noted Monday during their meeting in Cody that they have few other options to increase revenue, since tuition rates are set by the Wyoming Community College Commission. 

“We don’t have the flexibility” to set tuition at the college, said NWC President Stefani Hicswa.

Trustee Mark Westerhold said the national average cap on the maximum number of hours full-time students are charged is 15. In most Wyoming colleges it is 12, but that is likely to increase at other institutions as well.

“I’m not necessarily fond of 12-hour credit (tuition) limits,” he said. “I was brought up that if you want something, you pay for it.”

NWC Board President John Housel said he is leaning toward increasing the tuition cap to 15 credit hours.

Watson said not charging for additional hours often prompts students to take large class loads, and that can cause them to not complete their education at NWC. Statistics show that higher credit hours can equate to lower completion rates, she said.

“That counts against us” in the state’s community college funding formula, which includes a calculation for completion, Watson said.

Student fees also could be increased, Hicswa said.

“We can take off the cap or raise fees, either way — whatever you feel is more palatable to students,” she said.

Watson said neither option will make up for all the anticipated funding losses, but will allow college leaders to put additional funding toward identified priorities.

The board will consider both options next month.