By Jamil Oakford/editor-in-chief

Students in NW’s aviation program could pay several thousand dollars more in lab fees after the approval made by the board March 19.

NW proposed an increase to the lab fees for the Professional Pilot degree and certificate programs because of the required flight time students must complete according to federal regulations.

With 255 enrolled students, the program’s lab fee increase reflects the increase in flight instructor costs and new equipment with the company that holds the program’s contract.

NW president Elva Le-Blanc said it’s more practical to outsource to companies who own their own planes than for the school to purchase planes and other equipment.

In the new contract, the tuition will stay $110, but depending on the course within the aviation program, the initial flight equipment fee can range from $3,600 to $25,600. Even though these fees seem high, they’re still lower than many identical programs at other community colleges, according to research done by LeBlanc and her team.

District vice chancellor of finance Mark McClendon explained that aviation students go into the program understanding that these programs are expensive.

When board member Gwendolyn Morrison asked about what kind of student would afford these fees, McClendon explained that a lot of veterans enter the aviation program, especially the helicopter program where the highest lab fee is $25,600.

TCC Connect also gave a presentation, talking about some of the successes and growing pains experienced so far and some of their plans for the future.

Led by TCC Connect president Carlos Morales, a program counselor and its dual credit coordinator, they spoke on the expansion of eLearning. The group announced that in the fall semester, the dual credit program will bring Nolan High School into its TCC Connect program.