1982-1986

.Here's my view Junior colleges play vital roles

Long accepted is the truism that one of the best investments of the taxpayer's dollar is in the junior college system of the State of Mississippi. Serving the specific education needs of local com– munities, our state's junior colleges . have long been noted for being able to stretch that dollar and at the same time produce respectable results. These institutions that serve our state, our counties, and our towns not only educationally, but also in economic development, industrial improvement and enhancement, and in a wide variety of service functions, usually go about these duties in a quiet, often unnoticed, manner without a lot of hoopla and hype to call attention to their efforts. If we 're short on anything within our junior col– leges, it may be hoopla and hype! :· _As president of one of our state's 15 .public junior colleges, I want to voice loudly and clearly J:hat we are indeed an important entity in the total Mississippi picture - educationally, economically, and in all of our many other roles. And, we need help! In times of adverse economic condi– tions there sometimes develops the in– verse phenomenon of circling our i wagons and shooting inward. Junior col– t leges have experienced mid-year reduc- 1 • tions of state appropriations in four of the last five years. General support for junior colleges was reduced from $60.5 million in FY 86 to $50 million in the cur– rent year. The bullets are beginning to sting! In order to balance budgets this year, each junior college had to raise tui– tion significantly; request additional funds from county boards of super– ·,visors; continue to reduce expenditures for equipment, supplies, and library materials; reduce the number of

pares with a difference of 9.1 percent at the universities and 15 percent for public school teachers. Faculty salaries at many public schools exceed junior college salaries . In order to attract and retain quality employees by providing salaries com– mensurate with training, experience, and performance, the Mississippi junior college presidents are recommending a 10 percent increase in teacher salaries for next year. Such compensation will require approxi ately $7 million in ad– ditional state funds. This amount is not included in the $60.5 million general sup– port request. The junior college, as it seeks to meet the needs of new and existing industry, is an integral member of the economic development team in Mississippi. The Mississippi Junior College Association is proposing_ that an RCUED - Resource and Coordinating Unit for Economic Development.- be established and fund– ed at each of the 15 junior colleges. The primary purpose of each unit will be to enhance the economic development of the district served by the junior college. A $1.5 million appropriation is needed to fund the RCUED program. Other legislatio-n that is needed and will be introduced on behalf of the junior colleges in 1987 includes: fiscal in– dependence for junior colleges ; the con– tinuation of the concept of sovereign im– munity; and the endorsement of an ethics amendment. Junior colleges in the Sta te of Mississippi need better support. The State of Mississippi needs a strong junior college system. Let's move our wagons and start shooting in the right direction! Dr. Smith is president of East Central Junior Col– lege at Decatur.

·Dr. Eddie Smith Contributing Columnist

employees; and freeze salaries at levels already far below the averages for the Southeastern region. Junior colleges are expected to show overall increases in enrollment of 3.7 percent by the end of the 1986-87 session. An increase of 3.65 percent is expected for 1987-88. The junior college request for general support for FY 88 is $60.5 million. That would return our funding to the level of two years ago! Faced with continued growth and the challenges of maintain– ing quality programs, junior colleges must receive adequate funding to serve the needs of their districts. The $60.5 million appropriation will put us back on track. Junior college employees need raises. Average facul ty salaries at Mississippi public junior colleges during 1985-86 were 17.1 percent below those of similar institutions in the Southeast regional states . The 17.1 p€_rcent difference com-