| For Release: IMMEDIATE | Contact: Public Affairs |
| Date: September 15, 2000 |
Community College President pushes for higher salaries
RALEIGH: Raising community college salaries and providing additional student services positions are top priorities in the budget approved by the State Board of Community Colleges today. "This is an ambitious budget," said North Carolina Community College President H. Martin Lancaster, "but we can justify every penny requested." Lancaster offered those words in presenting the 2001-2003 Expansion Budget to the State Board this morning, September 15.
The budget represents an increase of 21.6% in operating funds for Fiscal Year 2001-02 and a 24.3% increase for Fiscal Year 2002-03. The current budget for the NCCCS is $782,044,203. The new budget is set at $951,147,649 and $972,288,383 for the first and second year of the biennium respectively. "These funds will enhance the programs at each of our 58 community colleges and the Textile Center [North Carolina Center for Textile Technology]," said Lancaster.
After approval by the State Board, the budget will be submitted to the Governor’s Office for inclusion in the biennial budget and ultimate presentation to the General Assembly. "This budget is the result of significant cooperation and collaboration and represents the needs of the system," said Lancaster. "Community College Trustees, Presidents and the Faculty Association all participated in its preparation." The State Board Finance and Capital Needs Committee is responsible for the preparation of the budget and is chaired by James J. Woody, Jr. of Roxboro, NC.
Lancaster concedes that the NCCCS is not likely to get its full request included by the governor, but he added, "It is our responsibility to request what we believe are the legitimate needs of the System."
The largest item in the budget, $57 million, represents an amount that would bring community college faculty and staff salaries up to the Southern Region Education Board average. At present, North Carolina’s community college faculty salaries rank at the bottom of the regional rankings.
Lancaster also referred to a Legislative Study on public university and community college salaries. It is hoped that after the salary study, the General Assembly will recommend an incremental jump in salaries for faculty and staff. "It is time for catch-up," he said. "While we know it will not happen in one year, this is a significant beginning."
Another area of great concern is the continued pressure on staff resources created by an increasing enrollment. State Board member Dr. Bob Greene called the budget the "best proposal we have had put together in a long, long time."
Greene applauded the $900 thousand in the budget for professional development to strengthen programs, faculty and staff and the $9.9 million for student development needs to handle growing demands for financial aid, career counseling and other student services. This budget funds at least one new position on each campus and additional campus positions based on Full Time Equivalent enrollment.
Many of North Carolina’s community colleges have multiple-campuses and off-campus centers. While there have been two years of incremental funding for multi-campus colleges, for the first time the budget includes funds for off-campus centers, which is a very high priority for the community college Presidents. The budget includes $ 9 million each year for these two items together.
The Small Business Centers operated by each community college provide a tremendous boost to local economy. Last year they helped more than 60,000 businesses with business plans, trouble-shooting, one-on-one counseling, seminars and conferences. The budget includes $2 million each year in additional support for these important centers.
The report of the Rural Prosperity Task Force, chaired by Erskine Bowles, included a recommendation that more attention be given to rural areas and rural manufacturers. The majority of that effort falls to community colleges. This budget includes an additional million dollars in funding each year for Focused Industrial Training to provide collaborative programs at community colleges in areas that would otherwise not have this specialized training.
State Board Chair Dr. G Herman Porter praised the intent of the budget. "While we have made some improvements over the years, this budget does provide some catch-up in areas where there has been significant growth but no additional funding."
The State Board gave the budget proposal unanimous approval.
First Year of the Biennium Expansion Items:
$57.5 million to bring salaries to the Southern Regional Average.
$31.5 million to continue the phase-in of Summer term funding.
$13 million for anticipated enrollment growth
$12 million to bring Continuing Education to full funding parity with Curriculum
$7.2 million for our distance education
$7.1 million for our libraries
$7 million for support positions in Student Services
$5 million additional dollars for Multi-Campus colleges.
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