With only ten days left before registration ends, South Carolina State University is more than 600 students shy of meeting enrollment expectations as another state budget cut likely looms.

"We're reviewing the numbers daily," President Dr. George Cooper said following a meeting of the S.C. State board's executive committee Thursday.

Cooper said he has a contingency plan to deal with a potential enrollment shortfall. If enrollment is below expectations, he will meet with the board to chart a course of action.

"I don't see how we can get around having to meet," trustee Maurice Washington said.

In June, the board passed a $75.2 million budget based on the expectation S.C. State would enroll 5,102 students this academic year.

As of Wednesday afternoon, 4,467 students have enrolled and only 2,917 of those have paid their fees. Those numbers are based on an actual head count of students, not the number of full-time students currently registered.

Late registration for students ends on Aug. 24.

Washington said the university would have to cut $11 million from its budget if registration closed now.

And S.C. State may have to make even deeper budget cuts.

Facing a $200 million revenue shortfall, the State Budget and Control Board is considering ordering a 4 percent across-the-board cut to state agencies.

Cooper said a 4 percent cut in state funding would cost S.C. State more than $700,000.

"I think it's urgent but not panic time," said trustee Dr. Walter L. Tobin.

Cooper asked the board to be patient with the enrollment situation.

S.C. State has already laid off employees, mandated a furlough, frozen hiring and eliminated unnecessary travel to cope with losing more than $8 million in state funding since last summer.

Most of Thursday's meeting of the board's executive committee covered the roles of the administration and the board at the university.

Earlier this year, the university was placed on warning by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. The accrediting agency said the S.C. State board overstepped its boundaries.

During Thursday's meeting, Board Chairman Lumus Byrd referred to the board's by-laws regarding the employment agreement policy for the athletics director.

The by-laws state that Cooper could continually extend Athletics Director Charlene Johnson's employment agreement each year without board approval as long as she's not given a multi-year extension. Multi-year contracts are subject to board approval.

"It does not require board approval. It requires my review," Cooper said.

During the meeting, the committee met in executive session for 20 minutes to discuss S.C. State's employment agreement policy.

The committee asked Cooper to review the university's employment agreement policy to ensure it complies with state law.

T&D Staff Writer Lee Tant can be reached by e-mail at ltant@timesanddemocrat.com or by phone at 803-534-1060. Discuss this and other stories online at TheTandD.com.

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