The Current Online

by Michael Holcomb

On March 15, the Metropolitan Community College board of trustees approved a proposal to increase tuition fees, effective for the summer semester of this year. Tuition will increase by $5 per credit hour and $2 per contact hour lab fees, whether it is in-district, out-of-district, or out-of-state tuition.

The increase is designed to help alleviate and balance the college’s budget.

“Gov. Nixon has announced considerable cuts to state funding of higher education over the last few years, which has caused colleges and universities around the state, including MCC, to rethink both expenditures and sources of revenue,” said Mary Birkel, Communications & Public Relations Coordinator. “The tuition increase is one of quite a few ways MCC is working to balance the college’s budget.” [...]

by Tara Menefee

MCC Notify Me is the college’s emergency text message alert system that helps keep students and employees informed. This system will send subscribers a message to their cell phone or other mobile device in case of emergencies, time-sensitive situations, or weather-related  closings, according to MCC Insider.

The subscription period does not expire for 180 days and students who subscribe will be able to decide whether they want to continue with their subscription or de-activate the subscription. When logging into myMCCKC, students will receive a pop-up message that will allow them to renew their subscription or terminate the service. If subscribing students who like to continue receiving emergency notifications, including campus closures, then the subscription will need to be renewed. [...]

by Michael Holcomb

Neglect.

Physical punishment.

Abuse.

Every year in the U.S., kids are abused by a multitude of people, from strangers to even their own families.  It is a serious problem with no foreseeable end in sight. Not unless awareness about these incidents is raised.

Since 1983, the U.S. has declared April National Child Abuse Prevention Month – an effort that seeks to not only teach about child abuse, but to prevent it.

“Missouri has Kids First, and they do some programming,” psychology instructor Angela Bahner said.   [...]

by Stephanie Weissman and David Hiestand

Stephanie Weissman/The Current

Click here to view slideshow.