RCC Board Reviews Budgets, Policies, and Construction Projects
Budget cuts, building expansions, and Golden Leaf funding were on the table for the Richmond Community College Board of Trustees on Tuesday night. RCC President Dr. Sharon Morrissey walked the Board through this fiscal year’s budget reversions totaling $427,000 and the current hiring, travel, and purchasing freeze. She said RCC has done everything requested and has been a good steward of the state’s tax monies.
State employees’ annual pay will be reduced by one-half of one percent and taken out of their May and June paychecks to help balance the state budget. In return for the payroll reduction, all full-time employees will receive 10 hours of unpaid leave,” she said.
Morrissey said faculty and staff are aware of the situation and prefer sharing the burden of this and possible future reductions rather than resort to the college’s reduction in force policy. The board passed a furlough policy to manage the current crisis.
Executive Vice President Dr. Dale McInnis brought good new regarding expansion of plans for the F. Diane Honeycutt Center to be constructed in Laurinburg. Construction bids came in significantly under budget and allow for an additional classroom, additional space in the industrial training area, and an upgrade to a cooling and heating system that is energy efficient and provides a quick payback on the investment.
McInnis said construction should begin by mid-July and be completed in May 2010.
Morrissey said the college’s project for expansion and renovation of the John E. Forte Building on campus for industrial training purposes was one of three projects chosen by the Golden Leaf Grant Selection Committee to be eligible to submit a grant application for $500,000 of the $2 million available to the county by the foundation.
“There were 16 very important projects. We’re just glad our role in workforce development is important enough to be considered,” she said.
RCC Student Government Association President Delia Michael of Rockingham received the Sam D. Morgan Leadership Award for her service to the college over the past year. Michael Punzo of Laurinburg is the incoming SGA president.
The board approved several revised policies that make them easier for students to understand and for college officials to manage.
n The Inclement Weather Policy requires clarifies how students make up missed classes.
n The Admissions Policy allows students who have earned as associate degree or higher will be exempt from providing a high school transcript as long as the degree is from a regionally accredited college.
n The Satisfactory Progress Standards Academic Warning, Probation, Restriction, and Suspension Policy requires students with a grade point average of less than 2.0 to follow specific procedures to ensure successful completion of their studies.
n The Audit Policy allows a student registered for a course to change from a “credit” to an “audit” status within the drop/add period. A grade of “AU” will appear on the student’s transcript. Audited courses do not count in total hours for full-time or part-time student status.
n The Proficiency Credit Policy outlines the process by which a student enrolled in a course may request to take a proficiency exam and earn credit for the course.
n A change in the academic calendar for 2009-2010 reflects changes in holidays to include Veteran’s Day and notes up to three days may be added at the end of a semester to make up instructional days missed for inclement weather or emergency closings.
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