STATE BOARD OF COMMUNITY COLLEGES SETS NEW CONTINUING EDUCATION FEES
No processing fees; exemptions remain the same

RALEIGH--The State Board of Community Colleges today (July 16, 1999) set new fees for Continuing Education courses.  The change was in response to a mandate from the General Assembly to generate $ 4.75 million from those fees.  Students have paid $35 for each course, regardless of length.  This fee has been unchanged since the early 90's.

More than 392,000 people use community college Continuing Education courses to obtain new job skills, improve present skills, or obtain job and volunteer certification.  Right now, 54 percent of those people take classes with no charge.  Most of these students are in service-related jobs (firefighters, law enforcement officers, emergency and rescue personnel).

The new fee schedule approved by the board retains the free status for those people who are exempt from charges now. The new payment schedule for those who pay is a sliding-fee scale, based on the number of hours in the course.  Courses between one and 10 hours will cost $15 more for a new rate of $50;  11 to 30 hours, $20 more to $55;  31 to 100 hours, $25 more to $60 and more than 100 hours, $30 more for a $65 fee.

There had been a discussion of a processing fee of $5 or $10 charged to all students taking the courses.  The Board chose not to take that option.

The new fees are expected to generate  $3,772,353.  This is based on a projected enrollment growth of two and a half percent.  Budget personnel warned there could be a decrease in enrollment because of the fee increase.  To protect against that, colleges will hold one-half percentage of their budget in reserve.

Lt. Governor Dennis Wicker, State Board Chair, told the board his goal was to keep Continuing Education classes free for fire, law and rescue personnel.  "People who put their lives on the line should never be charged," said Wicker.  He explained that Marvin Dorman, State Budget Officer, has agreed to allow community colleges to use $1 million in reverted funds to cover the shortfall expected without processing fee.

Almost 50 visitors watched the proceedings.  Law, fire and emergency personnel from across the state had come to voice their opposition to the proposed fee.  After the vote, they were eager to lend their praise to the Board.

The Board unanimously approved the new fee schedule effective August 1, 1999.

In other business, the State Board:

• Elected Dr. Herman Porter of Goldsboro the new Chair.  Mr. Peter Hans of   Hendersonville was elected Vice-Chairman.  Both were unopposed.
• Approved Dr. Mary Wood as the President of James Sprunt Community College in Kenansville.  Dr. Wood had been serving in an interim role.
• Approved Clarence Biggs as interim President at Martin Community College.  Mr. Biggs is Dean of Students Emeritus.
• Approved Dr. Stephen C. Scott as the new NCCCS Executive Vice President.  He replaces Dr. Barry Russell who leaves in September to take a presidency in South Carolina.  Dr. Scott is presently the President at Southeastern Community College in Whiteville.
• Approved Clyde Higgs as Executive Assistant to President Martin Lancaster.