The Hopkinsville Community College Board of Directors discussed enrollment increases, campus updates and approved a budget for the 2024-2025 fiscal year which will result in a tuition increase at their meeting on Monday.
Chief Student Affairs Officer, Angel Prescott shared that current spring semester enrollment is at 1,958 students which is 130 more students in comparison to last year. Prescott also noted that 2024 spring enrollment numbers were the highest HCC has had following the COVID-19 pandemic.
To regain the enrollment numbers they have seen in the past, Prescott says they have focused on their marketing, reaching out to students who may have put their studies on hold during the pandemic, offering new programs and partnering with community organizations.
HCC President, Alissa Young also shared a campus update concerning recent retirements, new hires, new programs, renovations and the result from their inaugural HCC Day of Giving.
Giving Day was on April 25, and served to raise money for scholarships, their food pantry and for emergency aid for students. Young says the amount they raised was over double their initial goal. According to the Giving Day website, HCC received 61 gifts that total to around $5,500.
Young also thanked the board and the community for their contributions.
Concerning new programs, Young shared that HCC has partnered with the Hopkinsville Rotary Club to expand the Rotary Impact program to offer a healthcare pathway and in fall 2024 they will be offering medical interpretation certification courses.
Moving on from campus updates, Chief Business Affairs Officer Dale Leatherman presented the proposed 2024-2025 fiscal year budget for HCC. The budget is set to support HCC from July 1, 2024 through June 30, 2025.
Leatherman says for the upcoming academic semester tuition will be increased from $186 per credit hour to $189. HCC employees may also receive a cost-of-living salary increase, but that will be determined by the Kentucky Community and Technical College System’s Board of Regents in June.
The proposed budget is around $28 million which Leatherman says is lower than last year’s budget of around $30 million.
The board unanimously approved the proposed budget.