Proposed bills to affect students - Karissa Rodriguez, Austin Community College Accent

HB 1 could mean a total of $8 billion in educational cuts while SB1 proposes cuts of $4 billion. In response to the cuts, Austin Community College's board of trustees has approved to raise tuition by $5 per credit hour beginning during the Summer 2011 semester. The board is also considering more tuition increases in the future, including an increase of $5 per credit hour for the fall 2011 semester and another increase of $5 per credit hour for the spring 2012 semester, according to a memorandum to faculty and staff written by ACC President/CEO Stephen Kinslow. Under the board's proposal, student tuition would increase $15 per credit hour in under one year from now.