RELEASE DATE: February 17, 2006
CONTACT: Public Affairs
PHONE: (919) 807- 6963, 807- 6962
State Board of Community Colleges approves 2006-07 budget priorities
RALEIGH – Since 1999, full time enrollment (FTE) within the North Carolina Community College System has increased by 50,000. That growth and the needs of an aging population are two of the factors leading to serious financial needs for the System, according to Kennon Briggs, vice president for business and finance for the NCCCS.
“Growth has created challenges,” said Briggs. “Those challenges can only be conquered with an infusion of financial support.” Briggs pointed to demographic, regional, economic, and technological changes that directly affect the ability of community colleges to be a “flexible, responsive higher education institution that educates and re-educates the workforce of North Carolina.”
Briggs outlined the proposed list of funding priorities for the System to the State Board of Community Colleges at an Issues Luncheon today as part of the Board’s February meeting. The priorities are designed to meet the needs of a changing workforce by adequately funding the System.
The 2006-07 Consensus Budget Request includes:
Access and Affordability - $31,052,224: Provide enrollment growth reserve, regular term enrollment growth, funding for multiple college locations, a tuition receipt adjustment. and financial aid.
Costs of Compensation - $33,533,587: Faculty and professional staff raises (7% increase), revamp the college president’s salary schedule, funds for the payout of Bonus Leave Days provided by the General Assembly when a college or System Office employee separates, restoring college benefit reductions, and funds for System Office staff that would enable the S.O. to be more competitive.
Student Services and Support - $16,785,336: Financial aid staffing, ADA compliance, and student services staffing needs.
Economic and Workforce Development - $33,337,700: Allied health program funding, Biotechnology resources, and two new regional customized training specialists (northeast and southeast regions).
Technology Enhancements - $28,717,380: Distance Learning Services and Infrastructure funding and funds to equip newly built and renovated facilities
The System Office - $485,509: Funds are needed to replace lost federal support for operations and information systems, and general office and vehicle needs for the GED Office. (This line item does not include System Office salary needs which is include in another item.)
There is also a category called Non-Recurring Items which deal with those items identified that will meet crucial needs including funds for advance planning of new facilities and new program start-up funds.
The State Board accepted the prioritized list and it will be presented to the Governor later this month. The Legislative Budget Session begins on May 9.
The State Board welcomed Dr. Jim W. Burnett, the new president at Western Piedmont Community College. Dr. Burnett has the distinction of leading the community college from which he graduated, as did his wife and daughter. He told the Board that a “student-centered attitude, coupled with the open-door policy leads to success.”
The Board also approved the statewide guidelines and curriculum standards for the Lateral Entry Certificate Program. The Board also approved the procedure that will allow quick approval of individual college’s Lateral Entry programs.
In other action the Board:
· Voted to give the trustees of Blue Ridge Community College until March 15 to provide a report responding to the State Auditor’s Special Review.
· Voted to send Dr. Stuart Fountain, SBCC Policy Committee Chair, and System President Martin Lancaster to the March retreat of the Randolph Community College Trustees to discuss with them the US Department of Education Audit.
· Approved Dr. Harold Mitchell as the Interim President of Halifax Community College. His term begins on March 1. Dr. Mitchell is the retired president of Roanoke-Chowan Community College. He replaces Dr. Ted Gasper, who was terminated by the Halifax CC trustees last month.
-NCCCS-
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