CSC's enrollment growth puts budget back on track

Dr. Park noted that when Chadron State’s enrollment slipped by about 7 percent last fall the college lost approximately a half million dollars in tuition and fees. The decline in revenue required a reduction in operations and equipment spending for the 2005-06 academic year.

The reductions were continued for the current year because of enrollment uncertainties. In addition, funding for projects tied to Vision 2011, Chadron State’s strategic planning program leading to the centennial observance in five years, were put on hold for this year.

But the enrollment has rebounded.

“I’m thrilled to announce that the enrollment is higher this fall and we have the revenue to restore the funding we had been forced to cut,” Park said. “Many people on campus put forth a lot of effort to ‘grow the enrollment’ and it has paid off.”

At the end of the past week, the college’s head count stood at 2,651, up 6.3 percent from the 2,494 figure at the same date a year ago. The full-time student equivalents increased 3.3 percent.

The higher enrollment includes about a 7 percent increase in freshmen, an enrollment increase of about 150 in graduate courses and a large growth in online courses.

Park noted that by releasing the funds for operations and equipment purchases early in the fiscal year, which began July 1, college personnel will have more time to make decisions.

The president said $150,000 will be made available for Vision 2011 projects, and encouraged faculty and staff members to submit proposals that will strengthen the college. She said decisions on which projects to fund will be announced in January and those who receive the funding will have a year to complete the projects.

Park also said $12,000 has been made available for faculty development, $10,000 for professional staff development and $3,500 for support staff development proposals. Most of these funds are used to help college employees attend state, regional and national meetings, often as presenters.

In addition, Park said research proposals submitted by faculty members totaling $22,000 have been approved for funding.

“We had more good proposals than we had funds for them,” Park said. “We will seek ways to fund more of them in the future.”

During the meeting, the president launched what might be termed “a grassroots” approach to building the budget for the next biennium. She said the college is beginning the process and invited faculty and staff members to participate. She said they can submit their suggestions to department chairs, deans and vice presidents.