While 2020-21 enrollment numbers are looking positive for Flint Hills Technical College the institution is still developing plans for a worst-case scenario as it develops its fiscal year 2021 budget.
According to the latest budget report presented during the FHTC Board of Trustees meeting Monday, the 2020-21 budget is balanced for the time being. FHTC President Dean Hollenbeck tells KVOE News current projections are indicating enrollment may likely stay flat or even increase slightly for the coming academic year, which is one of the college’s major revenue sources.
However; while the college knows what the enrollment numbers look like for next year, the one thing Hollenbeck says they do not know at this time is what the COVID-19 pandemic could like come this fall and the potential impact it could have on enrollment numbers. Because of the uncertainty, Hollenbeck tells KVOE News the college has been holding discussions and making plans for three separate budget reduction scenarios.
The first plans for a five percent reduction ($231,000), the second a 12 percent reduction ($500,000) and the third a 20 percent reduction ($1 million) . According to Hollenbeck, a five percent reduction would be a manageable hit, however, if the college had to take a 12 to 20 percent reduction, which would be the worst-case scenario, Hollenbeck says “the institution could look a whole lot different.”
The scenario planning comes as the college is preparing to resume face-to-face classes this upcoming fall. President Hollenbeck will have more information on KVOE’s Tech Talk at 8:20 am Tuesday on KVOE and KVOE.com.
