Following in-depth analysis from Dr. Dale Leatherman, chief business affairs officer, the Hopkinsville Community College Board of Directors opted to unanimously approve the budget for Fiscal Year 2024-25 Monday afternoon — bringing growth and general welfare to the campus.
Set at $28,037,000, it’s a shade below last year’s $30,025,000, but according to Dr. Leatherman comes with a few nuanced tweaks courtesy of the Kentucky Community and Technical College Systems’ Board of Regents.
First, it bumps the cost of all KCTCS credit hours to $189, up marginally from the $186 for Kentucky residents this past semester.
Second, it includes at the very least an across-the-board 3% cost-of-living increase, which could be more after the statewide conclave reconvenes in June.
Third, Huron Consulting Group has automatically generated salary adjustments, specifically targeted to HCC faculty and staff.
And fourth, a reduction in requested reserves.
Dr. Leatherman also offered up his opinion, noting that any and all new educational programming should at least “break even.”
In other news:
— Angel Prescott, HCC’s chief student affairs officer, noted enrollment finished at 1,958 students for the 2024 Spring Semester, which was a rise of 130 from the 2023 Spring Semester. That’s now a 12% enrollment increase over the last two years, the third consecutive semester with increased enrollment, and per Prescott, the highest Spring enrollment since pre-COVID.
She called targeted marketing campaigns a full success.
— Dr. Alissa Young noted that several vacancies, both faculty and staff units, remain on the campus. That’s due mostly to retirement in this cycle.
Furthermore, she said the “beloved” academic blue building is about to get the “love that it deserves,” with the bid accepted and awarded to A&K Construction. More Wi-Fi access points are being created in the parking lots, and a new SMART Center is being drafted, following a repair project near the Technology Center where huge windows once cloudy are now translucent.
— This Friday is Commencement, with nurse pinning at 9 AM, and split honors at noon and 3 PM. Noon will be for students earning a technical associate of applied science degree (AAS), diploma or certificate. Participating students should arrive by 11:30am. The 3 PM ceremony will be for students earning associate of arts (AA) or associate of science (AS) degrees. Dr. Young said the certificate amounts are “record-breaking.”
— Monday’s meeting closed with Dr. Young receiving strong, positive remarks from annual anonymous board assessment.
