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Community college reports enrollment and building projects as county reviews budget support
Summary
Beaufort County Community College leaders told commissioners the campus is growing about 5.3% in enrollment, expect an $875,000 state funding increase and aim to complete an Aurora facility before February 2026; commissioners asked about eligibility controls for locally funded student assistance.
Beaufort County Community College President (name not specified in transcript) updated the county Board of Commissioners during a budget workshop on the college's recent enrollment growth and capital projects.
The college president said enrollment (full-time equivalent, FTE) increased roughly 5.3%, representing about 135 additional FTEs, and that state funds tied to that growth could generate approximately $875,000 more for the college. He told commissioners the Aurora campus project is being staged and the building is expected to be complete before February 2026 if weather permits. The college also anticipates a new Steel Trades building.
Commissioners followed with questions about how county-provided tuition assistance (the "Promise" program discussed in the meeting) is administered. The president said the adviser to a campus LGBTQ+ student club is a state-paid employee and that the college uses a foundation to make Promise payments and to cover textbooks for eligible students. He confirmed the college commits to using county-provided Promise funds only for documented Beaufort County residents and not for undocumented students; the college does not provide individual student names to the county because of federal privacy protections.
No formal county action was taken. Commissioners thanked the college leadership and voiced support for the college's training programs, including regional fire and emergency-responder academies and career and technical programs.
