For Immediate Release

Contact: Anthony Twyman
Public Relations Coordinator
Community College of Philadelphia
Office: (215) 751-8082
atwyman@ccp.edu

House Bill Adversely Affects Community College of Philadelphia

PHILADELPHIA, PA, October 21, 2003 - Last night the House passed HB 113, which includes pro rata language that adversely affects the funding for all community colleges in Pennsylvania. The specific ramifications for Community College of Philadelphia would be a reduction of state funds totaling $2,032,000, the highest for any community college in the state at 7.7 percent.

"This language must be removed. It should be noted that this language addresses funding for the current fiscal year, 2003-04, after the academic year has already begun and commitments have been made to student enrollment and faculty contracts awarded," noted Stephen M. Curtis, President of Community College of Philadelphia.

The immediate and direct impact of the pro rata language on all community colleges in the state would result in an $18.5 million shortfall in funding, with the potential of the shortfall being much greater if January enrollments continue to increase as projected. Overall, the bill would reduce the current $1500 per full-time student to approximately $1200.

The passage of this bill would have dire results for the College, forcing it to increase tuition mid-year, and cap enrollment mid-year, reversing the College's almost 40-year policy of open admissions, denying education to as many as several thousand perspective students. Community College of Philadelphia's tuition is already the highest community college tuition in the state.

Community colleges understand the fiscal difficulties that the Commonwealth is experiencing, but the timing could not be worse. In the past, when the state has experienced budget shortfalls, community colleges have not received increases in funding; however, never in the history of state community college funding has the FTE reimbursement rate been decreased. Our enrollments have increased, as a result of the poor economy, with more high school graduates turning to Community College of Philadelphia for their education in addition to adults who have lost their jobs, or who are trying to increase their skills to maintain their current positions.

To curtail the ability of residents to seek education and training at community colleges will only serve to exacerbate the city's and state's inability to compete economically. It would also have serious implications for the immediate and distant future, imperiling the skilled and qualified workforce that is imperative to the revitalization of our economy.