With increased enrollment due to the downward trend in the economy, North Carolina's community colleges are facing several problematic issues.
The North Carolina Center for Public Policy Research recently released a list of what it is calling "four brutal facts" facing the state's community colleges as well as five recommendations to modify these issues.
Administrators at Surry Community College were excited to see these issues brought to light by the center as many of them directly affect the college and its students.
"Some of these issues have been discussed for several years, so I'm glad they're bringing them to the front," said Jamie Childress, associate vice president for student development.
One of these facts deals with balancing rising enrollments, lagging faculty salaries and inadequate equipment funds. Three of the recommendations from the center address dealing with these issues.
To combat the lack of money available for students when enrollment suddenly increases, the center recommends changing the current funding formula used by the state to determine how much money to give each community college. Currently, funding is delegated to schools based on either the previous year's enrollment or on a three-year growing average, whichever amount is greater.
According to Gary Tilley, vice president and chief financial officer at Surry Community College, there are two main problems with this formula. The first problem is that taking a "look back" approach to funding is not a good way to determine the college's current needs. The second problem is that by the time the legislature, which allocates funding, adjourns, the fiscal year for the college has already begun.
"We'll be deep into the fiscal year before we know how to distribute the funds," said Tilley. "We get the budget in September or October, but our fiscal year starts in July. How do you plan properly to address your needs?"
Surry Community College has seen an 11.5 percent increase in enrollment in the past year. If the economy continues to deteriorate, that number is expected to continue to increase and more people seek job retraining. For the most part, years with the greatest number of students tend to also be the years with the least amount of available funding.
There is no other alternative to state-provided funding for community colleges, according to Tilley. There are a few resources available through foundations for some community colleges, but, even then, there is still a large dependence upon state funding. Unlike other larger, private colleges and universities, community colleges do not receive a large amount of private funding to fall back on.
A second suggestion to correct the funding issue is to provide differentiated funding for higher-cost, high-demand programs. Currently, programs such as allied health and education are receiving the same funding as lower-cost programs such as cosmetology.
"I'm glad to see suggestions for a funding formula that is reflective of high-cost programs," said Childress.
"I think it's a great idea. It's well past the time to address that issue," said Tilley.
In addition to funding for actual courses, there is also an issue with providing updated technology and equipment for existing programs. The most problematic areas arise within the high-cost programs. According to the Center for Public Policy Research, limited resources have forced the elimination of 98 programs with expensive equipment needs throughout community colleges statewide.
While Surry Community College has not yet had to eliminate any programs due to a lack of funding, they have had to cut back on the growth of some areas.
"Because of that reality, we can't afford to increase those program offerings and enrollment," said Tilley.
Tilley also addressed an issue not raised in the study, which is the high cost of distance education. These online courses are becoming more popular each year.
"To update the equipment for distance education truly is a top need," said Childress. "The technology has outpaced the budget, so we're struggling to find the budget dollars."
A third topic addressed by the report is the salary of the community colleges' faculty members.
North Carolina's average salary for full-time faculty members at community colleges ranks a low 46th out of the 50 states. However, Surry Community College consistently ranks in the top 10 out of the 58 community colleges in teacher salaries.
According to Tilley, faculty salary rates are determined by a funding formula that the state establishes. The schools are required to allot a certain amount of money for curriculum salaries. That is the only place that particular money can be spent. The problem lies with the formula and the lack of consideration for faculties of various sizes.
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