Even amid a 15 percent growth in student enrollment, Sampson Community College may have to return nearly $1 million to the state as part of budget cuts being made at community colleges across the state.

“At a time when Sampson Community College is poised to grow, the budget cuts have had a dramatic impact on the college’s financial outlook,” said Dr. Bill Aiken, president of Sampson Community College. “Specifically, SCC’s enrollment growth for Fall Semester 2009 reflects a 15 percent increase over Fall Semester 2008. The impact of this continued enrollment growth has resulted in a $919,580 increase in the state budget allocation for SCC.”

That brings the total state-allocated budget for SCC to $11,410,170 — but that is before any of the reductions, which Aiken noted are costly.

According to the SCC president, college officials have been notified that, among the reductions, there will be a $285,410 management flexibility reduction, as well as a mandatory 5 percent reversion, which consists of $472,465. The management flexibility plan is a budget cut whose implementation has not been specifically prescribed by the N.C. General Assembly. It means exactly what it says: that “management has the flexibility to determine what budget line items to cut, within certain parameters,” Aiken explained.

“This is a negative reversion,” he said.

And with those cuts, or reversions, already totaling $757,875, the ax will likely fall a little more as the budget year progresses.

Aiken said that SCC has been advised to retain an additional 1 percent for possible reversions during the coming year, with that 1 percent being equivalent to $94,493. SCC’s president said, as a safeguard, the college is reserving $95,000 above that amount — $189,493.

With $757,875 in reductions, and another $189,493 on standby to be returned to the state, the college will find itself sliding lower on the fiscal slope than it was before.

“Of the $919,580 in new monies the college received, $947,368 may likely be returned to the state, resulting in a negative $27,788,” Aiken stated. “We should have gotten almost $1 million. We’re going backwards.”

Despite the state-mandated budget modifications, Aiken said the college is deadset on providing the learning resources for all who seek them.

“The college continues to be a viable alternative to people who are unemployed,” he remarked. “These budget constraints have compounded our ability to serve those who need new job skills the worst.”

Just last week, Aiken and other SCC officials voiced their pleasure with the growing enrollment number, saying they were impressed with the influx of new students seeking to gain knowledge and better themselves — and their job prospects — during a slow economy.

Dr. R. Scott Ralls, president of the N.C. Community College System, recently conveyed the dilemma facing SCC and other community colleges across the state, many of which have experienced growing numbers of new students. James Sprunt Community College has also seen a sizable spike in new students. Mount Olive College, although a private college, has the largest number of first-time students in its 58-year history.

Ralls said the state has a tough task to perform when facing an overwhelmingly tight budget, something to which Aiken has also attested.

“While several of the budget reductions will be difficult for our colleges to sustain as they face record enrollments, we are very appreciative of the support shown to community colleges by the General Assembly and the governor, especially in these economic times,” Ralls said in a prepared statement. The support, Ralls said, will go a long way toward North Carolina’s economic recovery.

For now, SCC will cope with necessary budget measures and move forward, officials said.

“Despite limited seating and funding, we have made it our mission to afford every opportunity available to the increasing number of students and strive to secure their space in the classroom,” said SCC Registrar Denise Rackley.

For some, that space will now come at a steeper price.

Continuing education

With a previous overhaul to the dual enrollment program, and a schedule of fees now imposed for high schoolers’ inclusion in many of those college-level courses, students on the other end of the learning spectrum will find the same is true of continuing education classes.

According to the state budget, the fees charged for community college continuing education courses shall be based on the number of hours of class time. The fees are $65 for 1-24 hours; $120 for 25-50 hours; and $175 for 51 or more hours.

That is a far cry from the previous cost of continuing education courses at Sampson Community College.

Occupational extension courses at SCC, offered as part of the Continuing Education division, are specifically designed to provide training that leads to employment, or training necessary to achieve certification, improve in one field or transfer to another. The courses, often offered in conjunction with local business and industry, range from those in fire service, emergency medicine and law enforcement to truck driving, substitute teaching and notary public.

Previously, to participate in those courses, it cost between $50 to $65 from 1 hour to 101 or more. People age 65 or older were exempt from the tuition fee.

That now looks to change, according to Aiken, who stated, “SCC will conform to the state-mandated fee schedule for Continuing Education.”

Chris Berendt can be reached at 910-592-8137, ext. 121, or by email at sicrime@myclintonnc.com.