The Kentucky Community and Technical College System Board of Regents approved a 2015-16 budget of $888,114,300 during its quarterly meeting at Hopkinsville Community College. The budget includes a one percent or $1,000 salary increase, whichever is greater, for full-time faculty and staff.
The 2015-16 budget amount represents a $36 million reduction from the prior year due to a decline in state funding, the decision not to raise tuition and a decrease in enrollment due to the improving economy. Since 2007-08, KCTCS has experienced state budget cuts totaling $38.5 million. And similar to community colleges nationally, KCTCS enrollment runs counter-cyclical to the economy so as the economy improves and more jobs become available many adult students reenter the workforce.
“I applaud President Box and the board for their commitment to keeping education affordable by not raising tuition for 2015-16,” said KCTCS Board of Regents Chair P.G. Peeples. “Despite these belt-tightening times we cannot continue to place the burden of decreased state support on the backs of our students.”
The approved recurring salary increase will apply to each regular full-time KCTCS faculty/staff member employed before April 1, 2015 who meets the required performance evaluation standard. This increase is designed to have a greater economic impact on employees in lower pay bands.
“President Box and the 16 college presidents have done an outstanding job of implementing efficiencies and cost saving tactics that allow us to compensate faculty and staff for their dedication and untiring efforts in serving our students. We only wish we could have done more,” said Peeples.
During the meeting the board adopted proposed vision, values and goals for the 2016-22 KCTCS Strategic Plan. KCTCS is engaged in a year-long strategic planning process. The next steps in developing the plan will occur through spring 2016. These will include internal/external forums, meetings with statewide partners to ensure plan alignment, the selection of key performance measures and targets, and final Board approval of the comprehensive strategic plan in June 2016.
From KCTCS