College reports enrollment rebound and Promise program using endowed grant to expand access

Chris Westover, president of Mountain Empire Community College, told supervisors the college’s fall‑2023 FTE was about 10% higher than the previous year — the first return to pre‑pandemic full‑time‑equivalent levels — and explained that state funding is based on FTE rather than headcount. He described the mix of career‑technical and transfer programs that drive enrollment and noted a large share of students attend part time.

Dr. Amy Greer outlined the Promise program, which she said began with a $750,000 grant from the Jean Ann Foundation that the college invested to create a perpetual endowment to cover tuition for eligible regional high‑school graduates. "They provided us with a $750,000 grant, to do that," Greer said, and explained eligibility rules including a 2.0 GPA floor and continuous enrollment requirements. She said Scott County’s $43,000 municipal contribution last year helped begin coverage for the first cohort and that the college expects to support two graduating classes in the coming year as the program grows.

Supervisors asked about differences between Promise and preexisting AIMS scholarship pathways and how the program coordinates with FAFSA and other federal and state aid. Greer and Westover said Promise is supplementary to federal and state aid (FAFSA remains required for most students) and emphasized the role of school counselors and parents in raising student participation. No formal funding vote occurred; college officials said they would return with updated participation and cost figures.