By Cassie Fuller
IV Leader Sports Editor, Jan. 31, 2008
The future of the athletic department and tuition waivers returned to the agenda of the Jan. 16 Illinois Valley Community College Board of Trustees meeting.
It is estimated that about $100,000 goes to 100 student athletes to pay their tuition each year, but members of the board and other administrators at IVCC are worried about too much tuition money going to athletes and not enough money going to outstanding academic students. C
urrently, several academic tuition waivers, including waivers for some members of the IV Leader staff, are available; however, the number of those waivers is not in proportion to athetlic waivers. A proposal was made during the board meeting to give more academic tuition waivers .
The scrutiny on athletics has been due to the lack of athletic support from both students and the community. While tax payers contribute roughly $500,000 to the school’s athletic budget on an annual basis, fan attendance remains low. Aside from reducing the number of athlete tuition waivers, other cuts to the athletic program had been proposed, but as of right now, big changes are not going to be made in the near future. I
t is estimated that there will be a more in-depth discussion in fall of 2009. Until then, the board will pursue other courses of action.
In other business at the board meeting, the Audit/Finance Committee suggested a tuition increase to the board that includes a $2 per credit hour hike for current IVCC students, a $1 per credit hour additional for incoming high school students, an increase in 100 lab fees, a decrease in 11 lab fees and additional books added to the rental program provided by IVCC.