Fall '09 enrollment approaches 10,000
Budget cuts challenge PVCC; new funds may improve outlook
By Kyle A. Porter, October 2009
Editor-in-chief
Record-high enrollment at PVCC this semester coincided with operating budget cuts for Maricopa County Community Colleges, both a result of the economic recession.
Fall 2009 semester enrollment reached 9,860 students at PVCC, a 9 percent increase in headcount since Fall 2008, but campus administrators have ensured funding of the learning core, says Paul Dale, Ph.D., and interim president.
“We are able to meet the needs of current students, though a number of offices are short-staffed,” Dale says.
Budget cuts projected in January 2009 when the state legislature started their budget deliberations amount to 2 percent of prior year funding, says Dale.
The operating budget for fiscal year 2010, the current school year, is $30.5 million: down $500,000 from fiscal year 2009. The current enrollment is a 9 percent increase by head count and 13 percent increase in full-time student equivalency.
Increases in the number of high school graduates, tuition at Arizona universities and unemployment figures contributed to the swell in community college enrollment, says Dale. He anticipates enrollment growth at PVCC to remain steady at 6 to 9 percent in the years ahead.
In June 2009 the Maricopa County Community College District voted against property tax increases, citing mounting home foreclosures and economic challenges for homeowners and taxpayers as their reasons. Property taxes collected by the county account for approximately 65 percent of MCCCD funding. Twenty-five percent comes from tuition and 8 percent from the state budget.
Jacalyn Askin, Ph.D. and vice president of administrative services, oversees PVCC’s operations budget. One bright spot in the current budget planning will be funds allocated based on growth in full-time student equivalency, she explains. The amount per FTSE is currently $2,130. Of this amount, $1,200 goes to teachers’ salaries. These funds become available in February, says Askin.
Each percent of FTSE increase equals $102,000 for PVCC. Enrollment figures don’t become official until the 45th day of the semester, but Askin acknowledges potential FTSE funds of $1.3 million based on 13 percent enrollment increase this fall.
While a boost to the operating budget, Dale says this funding is subject to the state’s review of the college’s enrollment increase over the full year before it becomes part of the next year’s budget.
Federal stimulus dollars are also being sought through grants submitted by the college district, Askin says. “It’s going to be a challenge. I hope people understand,” she says, “given the complexity of the budget and how dynamic it is now.”
Current districtwide solutions include salary freezes, maintenance cutbacks and larger class sizes.
John Nelson, English department chair, saw classes fill rapidly in the first week of August, including six ENG101 classes added in anticipation of demand. His department increased the student cap from 25 to 28 for entry-level English courses, Nelson says.
The fund for adjunct faculty met the need for instructors, and classrooms are available due to the opening of the new Life Sciences Building, says Nelson.
Other education advances in the midst of cutbacks are the addition of two new faculty positions by the district and opening the new building for Life Sciences, says Dale. Though funded in 2004 through a bond measure, the new facility had to be equipped and maintained.
“We are committed to getting and doing the best in our projects,” Dale says.
Students have noticed the increased numbers on campus and in the parking lot.
“It’s a little tough in the mornings to find a spot and get to class on time,” says Cindy Dickerson. Dickerson returned to school this semester, leaving the workforce to re-tool her job skills in healthcare management.
Stella Napoles, supervisor of admissions, records and registration, was unable to increase staff to cope with demand for fall classes. But no staff was lost due to budget cuts, she says, and full-time scheduling commenced July 1, as usual, to keep pace with registering students.
Early enrollment was the key for PVCC student Ian Strauss, a biology major.
“I know when you sign up for a science you have to register early,” says Strauss. “A friend waited in a line out the door to register.”
Strauss noticed new limits on printer use and earlier closing hours in the Learning Support Center.
While the college has more students to serve this semester, Dale acknowledges cutbacks in some student services: computer techs, tutors and extra-curricular travel. Nevertheless, the Head Start program assumed operation of the Child Development Center freeing funds for other campus needs, Dale says.
Askin, Dale and the PVCC budget development steering team, BDST, will start working soon on a budget for fiscal year 2011. The possibility exists that greater cuts will be requested by the district in the current fiscal and school year.
With the decline in property values, future tax revenues are uncertain. In preparation for whatever may happen, Dale’s strategy is a soft hiring freeze: eliminating unfilled positions for now.
Dickerson says she hasn’t been impacted by budget cuts in her experience at PVCC. “I’ve gotten what I needed,” she says. “Everyone here has guided me along step-by-step.” |
