Some South Carolina State University trustees are worried that enrollment could fall far short of expectations this year, which could lead to deeper budget cuts.

The university is currently 1,052 students shy of meeting its target enrollment of 5,102 this fall, trustees learned during a special meeting Wednesday.

“I’m concerned we’re not going to be where we think we’re going to be,” trustee Reggie Gallant said.

Trustee Martha Smith, who abstained from voting on the budget in June, said, “There are too many ‘ifs’ in this budget. The budget was somewhat built on sand.”

President Dr. George Cooper said there is still plenty of time to reach the goal, with registration ending Aug. 9. He noted S.C. State has enrolled more non-traditional students this fall.

He also pointed out the university had similar enrollment numbers last year at this time.

“I think we’ll be OK,” he said.



But Gallant said the economy wasn’t in disarray then.

“You’re using historical data to assume things when the world is different,” he said.

Trustee Maurice Washington said if enrollment falls, then it would force the university to shave millions from the budget.

As enrollment stands now, Washington projected S.C. State’s revenue could fall $16 million short.

Smith asked Cooper if he had a contingency plan for such an event.

Cooper didn’t present a specific plan. However, he cited options such as cutting spending, freezing salaries, layoffs and voluntary furloughs. He said protecting the integrity of academic programs would be first and foremost in making such decisions.

“We realize we may fall short of (meeting) enrollment,” Cooper said.

Senior Vice President of Finance John Smalls noted federal stimulus dollars can’t be used to plug a potential shortfall in enrollment. Those funds have to be spent on non-recurring items, such as capital improvements.

Cooper said he soon would unveil his proposal for spending the stimulus cash.

Smith said she wanted to hear Cooper’s stimulus recommendations on Wednesday -- not later. She was also concerned S.C. State hasn’t posted any information regarding its 2010 reaccreditation by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools on its Web site. SACS requires institutions to display such data on the Web.

“I come from a background where these things have a sense of urgency,” said Smith, the state director of public affairs for AT&T. “I’m not getting that feeling.”

Cooper said the university is in the process of posting SACS data on the Web.

Trustees also questioned why Cooper dismantled the university’s Student Success and Retention Office and moved employees to the academic affairs division without telling the board. The office previously fell under the student affairs office.

Smith wondered if Cooper needed board approval to realign the university’s organizational structure.

Washington said Cooper did, claiming that board bylaws require approval for such a move.

Cooper said it did not alter the structure.

He emphasized the move won’t affect federal funding for those positions. And he said those employees will still perform the same duties. The only difference is they will report to different administrators, he said.

Washington said creation of a retention office was a pioneering endeavor and the effort was lauded by SACS and the state Commission on Higher Education. Other institutions adopted a similar model to boost retention rates, Washington said.

Cooper has said S.C. State loses about 40 percent of its students year to year for a variety of reasons.

Cooper said the change was made to maximize resources to better serve students.

Trustee Robert Nance asked about a university committee appointed by former interim President Dr. Leonard McIntyre to manage the expected growth in the student population.

Faculty Senate President Dr. Evelyn Fields said the Managing Student Growth Committee hadn’t met this year.

“It would seem to me they would need to meet,” Nance said.

Cooper said the work of that committee is now conducted by the student affairs office and other university employees.

T&D Staff Writer Lee Tant can be reached by e-mail at ltant@timesanddemocrat.com or by phone at 803-534-1060.

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