Planning for future underway at Williamsburg Technical College

Education statewide has suffered under the unprecedented decline in state funding over the last year, and Williamsburg Technical College is certainly no exception. The College’s state funding was slashed by 25 percent last fiscal year and another 5 percent this year. Such a sudden drop in funding is certainly a serious situation, but it can also be a call to action.

The State Board for Technical and Comprehensive Education (SBTCE), which oversees the 16 technical colleges across the state, has made it a priority to find solutions to more effectively aid the smaller colleges in the technical college system adjust to these budget reductions. These smaller institutions often lack the resources available to their larger sister colleges and, therefore, have a harder time maintaining sustainability in this new economic landscape. As a preventative measure, SBTCE set aside one-time “economic recovery” funds in anticipation of potential shortfalls for smaller colleges. In order to ensure the most fiscally sound distribution of these funds, SBTCE requires that colleges requesting these funds go through an efficiency study or “assessment” of the college.

After reviewing budget and spending projections and feeling the strong winds of additional budget cuts looming in the near future, WTC’s area commission requested that a portion of the economic recovery funds be set aside for the College’s use. The commission welcomed the opportunity for an SBTCE-appointed team of experts to visit and assess the College. Such an assessment can provide much-needed recommendations for long-term sustainability and help the College choose directions to best support the economic growth and educational needs of Williamsburg County. The assessment team was charged with taking a comprehensive and unbiased look at WTC and making recommendations which could assure the many more years of Williamsburg Technical College training for area citizens.

The assessment team visited the WTC campus mid-October to meet with faculty, staff and area business and community leaders and get their take on the College’s impact on the community. They reviewed everything from finance to information technology, human resources to financial aid, and instructional delivery to enrollment and tuition trends. They also examined external factors throughout the county such as unemployment, economic development efforts, K-12, and workforce development partnerships.

In just a few short days, they basically saw a cross section of the many, many facets of Williamsburg Technical College in the context of its students and its supporters. They took their copious notes and returned to their various own college and professional settings and have spent the last several weeks compiling their findings and suggestions. They will present their report to the SBTCE in mid-November and to the WTC area commission board in early December.

Based on the comments made by the team during their time on the WTC campus, it is anticipated that the report will contain short-term and long-term recommendations. Some ideas the College will be able to implement immediately, while some will require the consent and action of commissions, state board members, and local and state politicians.

The report may identify areas where the College may be able to operate more efficiently with available public monies. It will also more than likely identify opportunities for growth and accountability. The visit and subsequent recommendations come at an opportune time: in 2012 the College is scheduled for its Southern Association of Schools and Colleges (SACS) accreditation review, so the implementation of suggestions will help the College more readily prepare for that endeavor to maintain its accreditation.

The visiting team was impressed with the commitment of the faculty and staff to the students and to the College. They also heard over and over again about the vital role the College plays in the community. Input from College personnel and community members can be incorporated into the strategic plan to guide the College forward. This will ensure that your College will continue to positively impact your future by continuing to provide high quality education as well as workforce and economic development programs for the citizens of Williamsburg County.