By Sarah Mansheim
New River Community and Technical College says a budget shortfall may result in layoffs.
In a notice released Friday, Mar. 25, NRCTC Chief Communications Officer Elizabeth M. Belcher cited declining enrollment and legislative cuts for the budget shortfall.
NRCTC’s enrollment has declined over the past several years, a trend, she said, that has occurred in most community colleges across the state.
“In its simplest terms, enrollment is dependent on the number of new incoming students and the retention of those students who are currently enrolled. Declining enrollment of first-time freshmen is at least partially related to a declining population of high school graduates and the general population in the service area. The West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission reported that only 56.4 percent of 2012 high school graduates enrolled at a post-secondary institution the following fall, thus increasing the competition among institutions of higher learning for a limited number of traditional students. The state has also seen a decrease in population since 2012, according to US Census Data, with southern West Virginia, including the nine counties New River CTC serves, seeing a significant decline,” she said.
Belcher also said that budget cuts from the West Virginia State Legislature for the past three years have been significant, totaling an estimated $970,245, or 15.2 percent, including a $265,872 (4 percent) budget cut during the 2015-16 mid-year.
Further, she said, NRCTC’s tuition level remains above the state average, putting the financial burden on students.
“The revenue shortfall from tuition, coupled with the compounding state appropriation cuts, makes it very difficult for the college to provide accessible, affordable, quality education and workforce programs to meet the needs of southern West Virginia,” Belcher said.
Calling the budget for the State of West Virginia “in crisis,” Belcher said that the college is reviewing ways to save money and increase revenue while still connecting students to jobs.
“ In order for the College to complete the current fiscal year in a balanced position, adjustments will be made to the budget immediately. These adjustments will occur by eliminating non-essential travel, cell phone stipends, college-paid hospitality, and a reduction of full-time, part-time and temporary positions.
“Budget reductions are difficult decisions to make – these decisions impact students as well as employees. However, these decisions are necessary for New River Community and Technical College to continue to offer the education that our communities deserve,” said Belcher.
Belcher said that she does not know which particular jobs may be eliminated – “They are in the process of making those decisions right now,” she said. She emphasized that no classes are being cut from the curriculum, or any programs that have to do with student services.
“We’re just trying to shore up right now before the Legislature completes its budget,” she said. “We want to be as transparent as we can be.”
New River Community and Technical College serves nine counties in southeastern West Virginia from the Greenbrier Valley Campus (Lewisburg), Mercer County Campus (Princeton), Nicholas County Campus (Summersville), and Raleigh County Campus (Beaver/Beckley).