February’s Governing Board meetings resulted in the approval of a new budget for the 2015-16 academic year, which includes a three percent tuition increase along with salary increases of 3.5 percent for staff and three percent for faculty. The tuition increase is similar to the 2.9 percent increase in tuition made last year and reflects the goal of the college to remain competitive with similar institutions.

President Bridges came to the college in 2005 with the intent of strengthening the college’s financial position and increasing the endowment. While the last fifteen years saw a huge increase in the college’s endowment, this increase was accompanied by equally massive increases in spending by the college and skyrocketing tuition.