Judy Sheridan
Weatherford Democrat
WEATHERFORD — Parker County residents who choose to attend Weatherford College this fall will pay $4 more per semester hour; the 6.6 percent increase to $65 per semester hour was approved by Weatherford College trustees in regular session Thursday.
Out-of-district rates will increase by $6, to $98 per semester hour, and out-of-state tuition will increase by $9, to $147 per semester hour. Some laboratory fees will increase to the state maximum of $24.
The tuition increase is in line with the state average for community colleges, which ranges from $55 to $70 per semester hour, according to Linda Bagwell, director of communications and public relations.
In addition, students who enroll for the fall 2010 semester will attend classes according to a new schedule that offers two one-and-one-half-hour classes on Monday and Wednesday instead of three 50-minute classes on the same days. A selection of new classes that meet on Fridays only for two hours or more will also be offered.
The new schedule should better accommodate the average Weatherford College student who often finds it difficult to commute to the campus three days a week, College President Kevin Eaton said. It should also allow limited classroom space to be used more effectively.
Enrollment at Weatherford College is up about 12 percent from last spring.
Eaton also recognized Nancy McVean and the drama department for their production of “The Musical Comedy Murders of 1940,” the Allied Health Department for its community Health Fair, Aren Austen and her physical fitness class for their dog walking project with Parker Paws Animal Shelter, and Coach Jeff Lightfoot and the baseball team for reading to students at Austin Elementary School.
In other business, Mike White, president of the Weatherford College Foundation, reported the Foundation had awarded 75 scholarships to date for a total of $69,000.
