SBCC approves budget, discusses cuts Mar 04

For Release: IMMEDIATE	Contact: Public Affairs
Date: March 19, 2004	(919) 807-6963

STATE BOARD OF COMMUNITY COLLEGES APPROVES CONSENSUS BUDGET, PONDERS IMPACT OF POTENTIAL BUDGET CUTS

RALEIGH: The State Board of Community Colleges learned today that projected budget cuts would have disastrous results for the North Carolina Community College System and the System Office.

The Office of State Budget and Management has once again directed State Agencies to identify budget reductions of up to three percent. For the community colleges, each percentage cut is a slashing of resources already stretched to the limit.

NCCCS enrollment swelled from 150,844 full-time equivalent (FTE) students in 2000 to 180,568 last year, an increase of more than 29,7000 FTE. Projections are that enrollment will grow by approximately 7,000 FTE in this fiscal year. While enrollment growth has been funded in each of these years, cuts in other areas resulted in a net loss for the NCCCS. Potential cuts of up to three percent could prove catastrophic.

Kennon Briggs, System Vice President for Business and Finance gave the Board the dismal projections. He explained that the decision was made to not make any reductions in four areas: Categoricals (i.e. Tech Prep. High Cost programs, Multi-campus funding), Economic Development (New and Expanding Industry, Focused Industry Training and Small Business Centers), Equipment or Books. (This area is already grossly underfunded), and College Information Systems or Financial Aid.

The State Aid Formula, with certain exclusions, is the area left to slash. Based upon calculations, the NCCCS received $571.64 million to support curriculum, continuing education, basic skills and the base allocation and enrollment allotment for the colleges. A one percent reduction would equal $5.71 million, two percent equals $11.43 million, and three percent equals $17.14 million lost to the System.

The real pain is obvious when actual items are identified. At one percent, more than 19,700 students (headcount) would not be served because more than 1,000 class sections would have to be eliminated. Budget reductions would force colleges to hold vacant or eliminate 28 full-time curriculum positions and more than 660 adjunct positions. The impact on the ability for program expansion, creation of new programs, equipment availability and instructional supplies would be drastic. At two percent the impact is deeper. The colleges would lose 70 full-time instructors and 1,193 adjunct positions. This would result in a delay of 80 new instructional programs, affecting more than 5,000 students (headcount). Three percent cuts would mean the loss of more than 110 full-time faculty positions, affecting 55,000 classroom seats. Equally as dire, 30 vital clerical support positions would be eliminated.

What is extremely painful is the impact on college workforce continuing education. At one percent 425 adjunct faculty positions and 540 classes would be lost, at two percent there would be 860 positions and 1,150 classes lost which could equate to 10,000 individual students (headcount) not receiving continuing education courses vital to their livelihood. At three percent the cuts would mean a loss of 1,380 plus positions and 2,7000 class sections eliminated. This would be devastating to economic recovery.

Each community college presented a narrative to the System Office detailing the impact percentage increment cuts would have on the college. The reports graphically demonstrate the hardship that would be created in instruction, equipment, and especially in student services. The System lost $10.5 million in this category last fiscal year. Additional cuts would mean catastrophic losses, at even the one percent level. At the three percent level 84 student services positions and an additional 43 instructional support positions would be lost.

Budget reductions at the System Office would nearly decimate an already strapped agency. System President H. Martin Lancaster encouraged the Board members to remind legislators that cuts at the System Office, the administrative support arm of the NCCCS, would also have a chilling affect on the colleges.

Immediately after receiving this dismal projection, Board approved the 2004-2005 Consensus Budget for the North Carolina Community College System. The biennial budget request presented to the Governor and the General Assembly is designed to build operational capacity and enhance student support.

The budget priorities for the 2004-05 Biennium include:

$59.3 million for enrollment growth, faculty and professional staff salaries and summer term funding
$223.5 million to meet the equipment needs that will modernize community colleges
$17.1 million for valuable business and industry training resources
$10.9 million in additional funding for community colleges with multiple campuses and/or off-campus centers.

The Small Business Center Network Awards were presented at the Board meeting: Eastern Regional winner - Lenoir Community College Small Business Center, Alice Tingle SBC Director; Western Regional winner - Wilkes Community College Small Business Center, Robin Phillips SBC Director; and the Central Regional and Statewide Excellent Small Business Center winner - Central Carolina Community College’s three Small Business Centers, Jim Felton, Nancy Blackman and Leon Tongret are the Directors. Small Business Center Network Director, Gayle Harvey, made the presentation.

The Board also received a presentation and gift from Anthony Locklear of GEAR UP (Gaining Early Awareness for Undergraduate Programs). This is a $15 million federally funded, state-administered program designed to stimulate interest in college attendance, awareness of college entrance requirements and knowledge about available financial aid by middle school students. Locklear told the Board that the program is active in twenty counties and has seen tremendous results. He presented the Board a print of a quilt symbolizing the GEAR UP partners.

Other State Board Action:

Approved Dr. Brantley Briley as Lenoir Community College President, effective May 10, 2004. Dr. Briley is presently president at Southeastern Community College. Briley has a long history with Lenoir CC. A Kinston native, he was Student Government President at LCC. He was an instructor, business manager and vice president at the college. Dr. Briley told the Board that, "being a community college president is a rewarding experience."
Approved a Resolution on the Brown v. Board of Education’s 50^th Anniversary. (attached)
Approved a curriculum program application for Community Journalism program beginning Fall Semester 2004. This is a program entirely new to the System. One third of the program will be delivered online. This will enable students at other community colleges to obtain general education and related courses there and complete their AAS degree in Community Journalism online from Central Carolina.
Approved the Strategic Plan for Distance Learning 2003-3004 through 2008-2009.
Received the Economic and Workforce Development 2002-2003 Annual Report.

-NCCCS-

STATE BOARD OF COMMUNITY COLLEGES

Resolution on the Brown v. Board of Education’s 50^th Anniversary

Whereas, the American Association of Community Colleges is recognized as the voice of community colleges and the community colleges are the largest provider of higher education in the United States; and

Whereas, the year 2004 will mark the 50^th anniversary of the Brown v. Board of Education decision – a landmark for equity in public Education; and

Whereas, the decision eviscerated the long-standing separate but-equal-doctrine that had governed public education, including community colleges; and

Whereas, federal courts and "courts of public opinion" consistently favor desegregation efforts; and

Whereas, many state are still struggling with how to remove the vestiges of segregation in education; and

Whereas, some school districts and higher education systems are still operating under consent decrees; and

Whereas, inequitable school funding or school district configurations have caused de facto segregation

Therefore, be it resolved on the 50^th anniversary of Brown v. Board of Education decision, we, the Board of Directors of the American Association of Community Colleges, pledge our combined and unwavering commitment to providing equal access to higher education’ and

Be it further resolved, we call to action the 1173 community colleges to ensure learning equity for all students through institutional, political, personal and civic engagement.

Approved by the Board of Directors, American Association of Community Colleges, November 7, 2003.

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