JWCC Trustees freeze in-district tuition for third straight year; no plans at this time to offer four-year degrees

QUINCY — During its regular meeting on Wednesday, the John Wood Community College Board of Trustees approved freezing the in-district tuition rate for the third straight year.

The rate, inclusive of universally assessed fees, will remain at $170 per credit hour effective Fall 2025.

“We are committed to our mission of providing accessible, affordable education to our communities. Freezing the in-district tuition rate helps students and families in our district know they have access to high-quality education without increasing financial burdens,” JWCC President Bryan Renfro said.

Renfro also noted that JWCC’s spring enrollment has increased.

This spring, JWCC has 125 (7.2 percent) more students taking 1,830 (11.4 percent) additional credit hours compared to last year. JWCC had 1,742 students who took 16,062 credit hours in Spring 2024. This spring, the College has 1,867 students enrolled in 17,892 credit hours.

“Doing our part to keep costs low is part of the increase we are seeing in enrollment along with several retention initiatives such as Guided Pathways and Caring Campus,” Renfro said. “Freezing tuition not only helps our students enter college but helps them complete education and training to help them secure solid employment with our regional employers.”

A major JWCC enrollment and retention initiative recently received a boost from a grant from the Center for Inquiry and Innovation. Renfro shared with Trustees that the College was one of 13 colleges in the country to receive the Rural Guided Pathways grant, which will supply JWCC with a coach and professional development opportunities to find more ways to help students identify academic majors and complete college credentials more efficiently and effectively.

Muddy River News also asked Renfro about Gov. JB Pritzker’s comment during Wednesday’s budget address about the idea of the state’s community colleges offering four-year degrees.

“JWCC is committed to providing accessible, high-quality education that meets regional workforce needs,” he said. “While we have no current plans to offer bachelor’s degrees, I’ve seen firsthand—through my experience at Tyler Junior College in Texas—how community college baccalaureate programs can successfully partner with universities and industry to fill workforce gaps. Applied degrees can help workers upskill, advance into management, and strengthen local businesses.

“I want to be clear that we have no plans to offer a bachelor’s in nursing due to our strong connection with Blessing-Rieman College and Nursing and Health Sciences and any decision we make in relation to developing baccalaureate degrees will be based on employer demand and partnerships with our four-year university and industry partners.”

In other business, the Board:

• Approved tenure for Agriculture Science Instructor Bethany Beeler; Fine Arts and Humanities Instructor Austin Roberts; Communication Instructor H.K. Giltner, and Truck Driver Training Instructor Chris Koetters effective at the beginning of the 2025-26 academic year.
• In accordance with Illinois Community College Administrative Rules, increased out-of-district tuition rate by $15 per credit hour. Statute dictates that JWCC’s out-of-district rate must be 1.5 times higher than the in -district rate of its highest contiguous community college district. The new rate inclusive of universally assessed fees for the 2025-26 academic year will be $305.
• Accepted $65,000 in grant funds from the Illinois Community College Board for a Digital Instruction Adult Education Grant.  Funds will fund technology resources to aid adult basic education students.
• Accepted $105,000 in grant funds from the Illinois Community College Board for Non-Credit Workforce Training.  Funds will support development of non-credit customized training for business to help employees attain industry-recognized credentials and secure employment in manufacturing.
• Accepted $175,001 from the Illinois Community College Board for a Bridge and Transition grant. Funds will provide support services to students transitioning from adult education/GED programs into career pathways.
• Accepted $23,600 from the Illinois Community College Board for the Homeless and Housing Insecurity Support Initiative grant. Funds will expand support to students experiencing emergent housing and basic needs such as temporary housing and food insecurity.
• Authorized submission of a $3,200 grant to the Department of Justice for Campus Police body camera reimbursement. The Illinois Law Enforcement Officer-Worn Body Camera Act required JWCC’s Campus Police to purchase bodycams and this grant, if secured, would help reimburse the College for associated costs.