Richmond Community College President Dr. Dale McInnis and the RCC Trustees laid out the budget dilemma the college is facing during the upcoming fiscal year to Senator Bill Purcell and Representatives Doug Yongue, Garland Pierce, and Melanie Goodwin during a breakfast meeting Monday.

As the legislators head into the state budget sessions, McInnis wanted them to understand the need to fund enrollment growth. He presented data showing an increase of students in both curriculum and occupational programs. McInnis said under the former legislation, the college would have received over $1.3 million in enrollment growth funding for this academic year. Combined with this year’s budget cuts, the budget shortage grows to $2.2 million.

“The majority of our growth is from displaced workers coming back to be retrained for other jobs. We’re also seeing a growing number of high school students choosing RCC. Increased university tuition and limits on the numbers of freshman and sophomores they accept is bringing us more and better prepared students. We have not and will not turn away students,” he said.

The results of the shortfall are larger classes and the use of more adjunct faculty. He said the college faculty has worked hard to manage the increases and continue to provide the same high quality of education as always. The concern, however, comes when the expansion requires the use of more adjunct faculty, which affects criteria set by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, the college’s accrediting agency.

McInnis said students who have been in the workforce for decades need remediation before entering college-level courses. Traditionally, community colleges do not receive funding for summer session and operate on a self-supporting basis. Students need to be able to enter their programs of study in the fall to remain on schedule and graduate within the timeframe of the benefits that pay for their retraining. He emphasized the need to fund summer courses to help people get back into the workforce in a timely manner.

“Tuition waivers are another issue important to us. Currently, fire, law, and rescue personnel are not charged tuition for training they receive from RCC. We have well-trained units in Richmond and Scotland counties. We see charging fees to these groups, especially to volunteers, will have a direct impact on our communities,” he said.

In replying to McInnis’ presentation, Yongue said funding enrollment growth was a “no brainer.”

“With enrollment is booming, we’ll having to find the funding somewhere. The future of the state depends upon community colleges. I assure you the four of us will continue to support this community college,” he said.

He asked McInnis about state funding for renovations and repairs. RCC has not received state funding since 2000, but has been supported by the Richmond and Scotland County Commissioners.

“With local budgets being cut, we have held off on cosmetic work and focused on safety and structural issues. You are beginning to see the wear and tear, but we are structurally sound and energy efficient,” said McInnis.

Purcell said the concise presentation said much.

“I see you are doing a lot of things for many people. I think you’re very smart about your priorities and very serious about the needs of our community and our community college,” he said.

Other areas discussed included funding for the replacement of equipment as technology changes, for high school students taking more college courses tuition-free, and for programs for prisons.