COLUMBIA - Coastal Carolina University
asked for extra funds to help make up for years of inequities, but
if that's not possible, the school wants the flexibility to raise
and spend money itself.
CCU Vice President Sally Horner and Provost Peter Barr spoke
Wednesday morning at budget hearings by a House subcommittee on
higher-education funding.
The panel asked a few questions but made no commitments. It will
make its budget recommendations later.
Horner said CCU receives only 29 percent of the state-mandated
formula for colleges, while the average is 41 percent for other
colleges in the state.
The university also receives $1,863 in state money for each
employee, compared with a state average for other schools of $3,937,
Horner said.
"We're not whining; we're just telling you where we are
financially," she said.
The discrepancy partly is because of explosive growth. The
enrollment of just more than 7,000 students represents a 52 percent
increase in five years, Horner said.
The $11.8 million CCU receives in the current state budget is 13
percent of the college's budget, and the preliminary budget proposed
by Gov. Mark Sanford would cut state support to 12 percent, Horner
said.
CCU manages by having higher tuition for out-of-state students
than some universities in the state, but in-state tuition is below
average, she said. The university's board also raised in-state
tuition to cover costs.
Barr talked about CCU's outreach programs, including students who
mentor pupils in Horry County's K-12 classes.
"We have a lot of enthusiasm for it on our campus," Barr told the
subcommittee.
He said a new science building remains CCU's top priority, and he
asked that colleges continue to receive some lottery money for
technology.
The lottery money is helping CCU achieve a level of technology
that many high schools already have, Barr said.
