The Eastern Arizona College will receive $873,202 in federal stimulus money.

The EAC Governing Board approved an intergovernmental agreement between the Graham County Community College District and Governor's Office of Economic Recovery on Oct. 21 that will allow the money to be distributed to the college.

The money will be used to help pay for the construction of the college's nursing education building, College President Mark Bryce said, adding that the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act — known as the stimulus package — required projects that were "shovel-ready" to be eligible for the federal money. "We were shovel-ready, and we were already shoveling," Bryce said of the college's eligibility.

The intergovernmental agreement outlines when the college will receive the money and includes reporting and compliance requirements. Highlights of the agreement follow:

• Stimulus money will be transferred to the college on a cost-reimbursement basis upon receipt and approval of a monthly payment request form.

• Stimulus money cannot be used for non-American sources of iron, steel or manufactured goods for a project. This includes construction, alteration, maintenance or repair of a public building or public work.

• Workers must be paid in accordance with wage requirements of the Recovery Act.

• Projects that have fixed-price contracts that were awarded through a competitive process are given "special emphasis."

In another money matter, the board received a proposal from College Executive Vice President Brent McEuen that keeps in-state and out-of-state tuition for the 2010/11 fiscal year at the current level.

The board took no action on the proposal.

The proposal also calls for no increase in residence hall fees and raises the cost of meals by about $4 a month.

Bryce said several Arizona community colleges are expected to raise their tuition and other fees.

"They're using the current situation in (state) budget matters for increases," Bryce said.

According to the proposal, in-state students will continue to pay $65 per credit hour or $760 per semester for 12 or more credit hours. Out-of-state students will pay $75 per credit hour or $3,300 for 12 or more credit hours.

In comparison, Arizona residents who are full-time students will pay registration fees of $6,855 at the University of Arizona, $6,846 at Arizona State University and $6,126 at Northern Arizona University. Nonresident tuition and registration fees are $22,264 at the U of A, $19,630 at ASU and $16,634 at NAU.

In other business, College Chief Business Officer Tim Curtis reported that construction of the new nursing education building at the corner of Railroad and College is on schedule.

"We're still on track for a spring completion and a fall occupancy," Curtis said.