Auditor says technical college’s enrollment, revenues increasing

South Central Louisiana Technical College’s enrollment and revenues are on the rise while the school is relying more on tuition and fees instead of federal and state funding, according to a report released this morning on the state Legislative Auditor’s website.
In analyzing financial trends over the past five years, the college has become more dependent on tuition and fees as federal revenues and state appropriations have decreased, the state auditor’s report stated. The college had a decline in enrollment and corresponding revenues in 2012 as a result of Hurricane Isaac, but enrollment and revenues have been steadily increasing since 2012, the report stated.
South Central Louisiana Technical College Regional Director Earl Meador expects the increases in enrollment to continue as administrators have adjusted programs, curriculums and the operation of the college to meet the ever-changing needs of the community.
In 2014, tuition and fee revenues rose 66 percent in large part because of the increases in specialized marine safety training courses offered at the college, the report said.
“We expect that to continue to increase as construction begins on the new marine building,” Meador said. Administrators will hold a groundbreaking ceremony probably in April for the new building, he said. Construction is expected to take about a year after the groundbreaking. “It’ll go up pretty fast,” Meador said.
Training is provided through the Marine/Oil and Gas Center of Excellence on the College’s Young Memorial Campus to meet the needs of offshore workers and employers, the auditor said. In the past year, management reported that the Center issued 3,783 maritime and petroleum safety certificates, according to the report.
Going forward, Meador projects a 5 to 10 percent annual increase in enrollment each year for the college, he said.
The auditor also determined that the college properly implemented controls over student financial aid and properly implemented controls over student tuition and fees, the report said.