WINCHESTER, Ore. (AP) -- Students at Umpqua Community College will pay a little more to attend school.

Board members approved an incremental tuition increase at their meeting Wednesday night.

Tuition will rise $1 per credit each year over the next two school years, becoming $66 a credit next year and $67 a credit in 2011-12.

Though he voted for the increase, board member Bob Bell expressed his frustration at having to ask students "to pay the freight" when unemployment in Douglas County remains so high.

College President Blaine Nisson says UCC will still have the lowest per-credit tuition in Oregon.

Umpqua Community College recently received an $800,000 donation for its Southern Oregon Wine Institute. The institute will host laboratories, a commercial-scale wine making facility, testing area and an event center. It is modeled after a similar program at Walla Walla Community College.

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Information from: The News-Review, http://www.nrtoday.com

Copyright 2010 The AP.