🏛️ Tuition Freeze Victory: PCC Board Maintains Affordable Education
Students celebrate as college holds line on costs amid national trend of rising expenses
😽 Keepin’ It Simple Summary for Younger Readers
👧🏾✊🏾👦🏾
🎓 Pima Community College's latest board meeting brought 🎉 good news for students and families. The college decided to ❄️ freeze tuition prices, making it easier for more people to 💰 afford college classes. 🌟 Students shared amazing projects they've worked on, including 🛡️ helping protect people from fake videos online and 🚲 making safer paths for biking to school. The college is also 🏗️ building new facilities to teach job skills and 🧪 letting high school students take college science classes. While there are some 💻 challenges with computer systems not working properly, the college is 💪 working hard to fix these issues and make 📚 education available to everyone in the community.
🗝️ Takeaways
🎯 Current tuition rates frozen for 2025-2026, maintaining accessibility
📊 $12M decrease in net position due to planned infrastructure investments
🌟 All-Arizona Academic Team students showcased impressive research projects
🏛️ New partnerships expand STEM education access to high school students
💰 Major contracts approved for training facilities and technology upgrades
🤝 Faculty reports improved administration collaboration
⚠️ Concerns raised about non-functional CRM system implementation
📈 Enrollment growth drives $3.2M increase in tuition
Democracy in Action: Inside Pima Community College's March 2025 Board Meeting
In the fluorescent-lit chambers of Pima Community College's District Office on Wednesday, March 5, 2025, the Governing Board convened for their monthly meeting. What unfolded was a mix of ceremonial celebration, administrative procedures, and consequential financial decisions that will directly impact students' ability to access education in our community.
Setting the Stage
The meeting began with the customary Land Acknowledgement, recognizing that the college operates on the traditional lands of the Tohono O'odham and Pascua Yaqui peoples. While this acknowledgment has become standard practice, we must ask: What tangible actions follow these words to support Indigenous sovereignty and educational access for Native students?
Celebrating Student Achievement: All Arizona Academic Team
The meeting's "Mission Moment" highlighted the remarkable achievements of PCC's All Arizona Academic Team students. Dr. Brian Stewart, Campus Vice President, and Chief Culture Impact Officer introduced the program, explaining how these student scholars receive tuition waivers to Arizona's public universities through this competitive program.
Two standout students shared their stories with the Board:
Melissa Shaw, in her final year at PCC before transferring to the University of Arizona, eloquently presented her endeavor project on the dangers of AI-generated deepfakes, particularly those targeting women and children.
"Deepfake pornography disproportionately affects women and children," Shaw told the Board. She described how her research led her to join Tucson Unified School District's AI policy task force, where she helped draft guidelines for K-12 schools across the district.
Shaw's testimony revealed both the power of student-led research and the critical importance of addressing emerging technological threats to vulnerable populations.
Rebecca Ercilie, who recently earned her Associate's Degree and is now at the University of Arizona pursuing Political Science, shared her journey as a refugee and her advocacy work at PCC. Her endeavor project, the Back Path Line Initiative, aims to create a designated path connecting St. Mary's Hospital to West Campus, improving safety for students commuting by bike.
"I expressed my uncertainty, telling her I was new to America and didn't even know where the Chancellor's office was." Ercilie recounted her early days seeking involvement at PCC. "She smiled and assured me, 'I'll walk you through the whole process, and if you're ready, we can do this.'"
Ercilie's testimony highlighted the transformative power of supportive staff and inclusive campus environments for immigrant students.
Student Voices From Washington
Joseph Mais, Director for Government & Community Relations, introduced three students who represented PCC at the Association of Community College Trustees Legislative Summit in Washington D.C., where they advocated for federal programs critical to community college funding:
Amber Owens (appearing via Zoom), a former adult education student now pursuing cybersecurity, emphasized the importance of federal support for community college programs.
Lulu Mendez, a TRIO program tutor, shared the impact of her Washington experience: "It was amazing and eye-opening, not even just seeing the hustle and bustle of the city like it's different compared to our little town here, but it was amazing... It was amazing to see how much we need to advocate for our problems to get heard. We can't just say the problem once and think that they're going to do something, and we need to be repetitive about advocating."
Symata Duarte's statement, read by Mais, thanked those who made the experience possible and reflected on how the experience inspired her to continue advocating for her community.
These testimonies powerfully illustrate why federal funding for programs like TRIO, Pell Grants, and other forms of financial aid are not merely budget items but lifelines for students from marginalized communities.
Public Comment: Faculty Concerns and Celebration
The sole public commenter was Makyla Hays, Math Faculty, AERC co-chair and PCCEA President, who expressed gratitude for recent progress on shared governance at the college: "We have I feel like we've made some good strides towards it...I feel like there's a more of a spirit of collaboration to get things done as partners."
Hays' comments revealed an evolving relationship between faculty and administration that appears to be moving in a positive direction. However, the lack of a written definition of shared governance suggests there's still work to be done.
Financial State of the College
The financial health of PCC was detailed in the December 2024 statements included in the meeting materials. The college currently shows a total net position of $201 million, a decrease of approximately $12 million compared to the same time last year. This decrease is attributed to planned investments in capital improvements, notably the Center of Excellence in Health Professions.
Key insights from the financial report show tuition and fees revenue increased by $3.2 million due to enrollment growth, while property tax revenues increased by $1.8 million. However, general and designated expenditures have increased by about $7.3 million compared to the same period last year, with personnel services increasing by $3.4 million due to 2025 pay increases and associated benefits.
These figures illustrate the delicate balance community colleges must maintain between investing in quality facilities and keeping education affordable.
Tuition Freeze: A Victory for Student Access
In what stands as the most consequential decision of the evening for students and families, the Board unanimously approved maintaining current tuition and service fee rates for the 2025-2026 academic year. This means in-state residents will continue paying $100.50 per credit, while non-resident rates remain at $322 per credit for fall/spring, $251 for summer, and $232 for online courses.
Board Chair Greg Taylor noted, "In a time of uncertainty and disruption that we keep talking about and alluding to, I think having some consistency for our students and their families is important, where we're not asking them to contribute more in a time when we're not sure what's going to happen with Pell or TRIO or any of these other programs."
This decision represents a significant win for educational access, particularly for low-income students and those from historically marginalized communities who are most sensitive to tuition increases. In an era of skyrocketing higher education costs nationwide, PCC's commitment to affordability stands as a model of what public education should prioritize.
Contract Concerns and Software Questions
Board Member Theresa Riel raised essential questions about the college's Customer Relationship Management (CRM) systems, highlighting potential wasteful spending on software that hasn't been fully implemented or utilized:
"We purchased these systems, and they haven't been functioning, and that concerns me. I don't want us as a board to be moving to purchase more things if we're not actually going to use them," Riel stated.
Her questioning revealed that despite spending hundreds of thousands of dollars on CRM systems in recent years, including over $700,000 in October 2024 alone, the systems weren't functioning properly as of January 2025. This accountability around technology spending is crucial, as these systems are meant to improve student recruitment, retention, and success.
Noteworthy Contract Approvals
The board approved several significant contracts, including:
$2.55 million with the Chasse Building Team for the construction of the Flexible Industry Training Lab, which will train workers on advanced manufacturing equipment
$531,000 with Cox Communications for internet service
$282,579 with Ellucian for a new human resources information system
$429,907 with Ellucian for student financial aid software
While these contracts represent significant expenditures, they also reflect investments in infrastructure, technology, and systems that should enhance the college's ability to serve students effectively.
Expanding Educational Access: Sahuarita Partnership
The board approved an Intergovernmental Agreement with Sahuarita Unified School District that allows 55 high school students to enroll in a college-level chemistry course. This partnership demonstrates how creative solutions can expand educational opportunities, particularly in STEM fields where early exposure is crucial for student success.
Looking Forward: Requests for Future Agenda Items
Board Member Riel requested future discussion on:
Bringing back printed programs for graduation ceremonies, noting that "a lot of our students, this might be the first time that anybody in their family graduated from college."
Detailed information about financial documents, mainly administrative personnel expenses, increased by $500,000 despite the cuts in two major positions.
The Impact on Our Community
The decisions made at this meeting will have direct consequences for thousands of students across Pima County:
Tuition freeze - Maintaining current rates means continued accessibility for low-income students, particularly as federal aid programs face uncertainty.
Infrastructure investments - The Flexible Industry Training Lab will create pathways to employment in advanced manufacturing, potentially transforming economic opportunities for graduates.
Technology improvements - Despite valid concerns about implementation, the new software systems should ultimately create more seamless experiences for students navigating financial aid, registration, and other administrative processes.
Dual enrollment partnerships - The agreement with Sahuarita USD represents a critical pathway for high school students to access college coursework, which is particularly important for first-generation college students.
Hope on the Horizon
The March meeting revealed a college actively working to expand access and opportunities despite financial constraints. The student speakers, particularly those from refugee backgrounds and those tackling pressing social issues through their academic work, embody the transformative power of community college education.
As Board Chair Taylor noted regarding the tuition freeze, maintaining affordability during uncertain times demonstrates a commitment to students and families that goes beyond rhetoric. The All Arizona Academic Team students' achievements show what's possible when institutions invest in supporting student success.
How You Can Get Involved
Your voice matters in shaping the future of higher education in our community:
Attend board meetings - Regular meetings are held the first Wednesday of each month at 5:30 p.m., with the next one scheduled for April 2, 2025.
Speak during public comment - Anyone can address the board during the Call to Audience portion of meetings.
Support student advocacy - Consider donating to the Pima Foundation, which helps fund scholarships, including those that support Sahuarita USD students.
Stay informed - Follow PCC on social media and subscribe to college updates to track developments between meetings.
Higher education remains one of our most powerful tools for social mobility and community transformation. By staying engaged with institutions like Pima Community College, we ensure they truly serve the needs of all community members, particularly those from historically marginalized backgrounds.
What educational priorities would you like to see PCC address in the coming academic year? How has the college's emphasis on affordability impacted your educational journey or that of someone you know? Leave your thoughts in the comments below.
