Friday, Aug. 28, 2009

S.C. State braces for student shortfall

South Carolina State University’s president is putting together some financial contingency plans in case enrollment this year continues to fall short of projections.

The university based its 2009-2010 budget on a projected fall enrollment of 5,102 students, President George Cooper told the school’s Board of Trustees last month. But the school is about 250 students short of that goal, spokeswoman Erica Taylor said.

Cooper told board members he will deliver a report at Thursday’s Finance Committee meeting, Taylor said. University staff members will present the committee with enrollment and budget numbers and make recommendations on how to proceed, she said.

Taylor said the university will adjust the budget if that’s necessary.

Although late registration ended Aug. 24, students have until Monday to pay their bills, Taylor said. Staff members will have a clearer picture of fall enrollment after that.

The board will vote on the recommendations at its Sept. 24 meeting, she said.

The school has had some financial struggles in the economic downturn. In July, it laid off 12 employees.

Cooper told the board the layoffs helped make up for losing $8 million in state support — or 35 percent of the university’s budget — in the past year.

The university’s board also approved an 8.4 percent tuition increase for the 2009-2010 to compensate for reduced state funding. And the school raised fees for campus housing, which will range from $2,500 to $3,000 per semester, and increased the cost of student meal plans by 3.5 percent.

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