JUNE-2017
No Tuition Increase
EFSC crafted a $ 76 million budget for Fiscal Year 2017- 18 that included no tuition hike for the sixth straight year to continue making higher education affordable.( Student Enrollment, Diversity Initiatives, Employee Relations, Financial Management, Trustee Relations, Community Awareness)
Fiscal Year Highlights:
• Not raising tuition makes it more likely students will be able to afford to take the courses they need to graduate and begin their careers.
• The total for tuition and fees remained $ 104 for lower division courses for Florida residents, which is in line with other state colleges in Central Florida.
• The total per credit hour for upper division courses for Florida residents remained $ 128.51, which is similar to other institutions in the 28-member Florida College System.
• Full funding for all academic programs, including 40 new Bachelor’ s Degree and Associate’ s Degree programs the college has started the past five years.
• The budget provided the dollars, equipment and infrastructure to make these new opportunities a reality to students.
• The college continued working closely with local businesses and industry to create more new programs to provide the skilled workforce they need.
• A 2.5 percent base pay increase for members of the United Faculty of Florida Brevard Chapter in the third year of a three-year collective bargaining agreement.
• The pact calls for a 2.5 percent pay increase annually over three years for a total 7.5 percent increase from 2015-18.
• The college paid for health and dental insurance premium increases for faculty and staff, saving money that would otherwise come from their paychecks.
• Invested $ 18 million in new projects, including the start of construction of a new Student Union on the Melbourne campus, and improvements to classrooms, technology, security and parking.
• The budget was crafted after a $ 2.5 million funding cut from the Florida Legislature, part of a legislative-ordered $ 30 million spending cut for the Florida College System of which Eastern Florida is a member.
• Addressed the reduction by eliminating vacant positions and cutting spending in 15 categories, including executive management salaries, travel, office materials and construction supplies.
Minority Enrollment Gains
Minority students continued making important gains at the college, with the percentages of African-American and Hispanic students exceeding the respective populations of African-Americans and Hispanics living in Brevard County.( Student Enrollment, Diversity Initiatives, Employee Relations, Trustee Relations, Community Awareness)
Minority Enrollment Highlights:
• African-Americans comprised 11.5 percent of overall student enrollment, and nearly 13 percent of First Time in College Student enrollment.
• Hispanics comprised 12.5 percent of overall student enrollment, and 15 percent of First Time in College Student enrollment.
• Hispanics are now the largest minority student population at the college.
• The number of African-American and Hispanic students completing their studies and earning AA and AS Degrees continues to increase.
• African-American students receiving AA and AS Degrees was 9.3 percent and 9 percent respectively; Hispanic students receiving AA and AS Degrees was nearly 12 percent and 9.4 percent, respectively.
• Overall enrollment of other minority groups also is strong, with 6.5 percent of overall student enrollment and 6.7 percent of First Time in College Student enrollment.