Northampton Community College presents modest budget increase, $12M capital campaign and library learning commons plan
Get AI-powered insights, summaries, and transcripts
Subscribe
Summary
NCC told the Bethlehem Area SD finance committee it proposes an $85.5M operating budget (3.25% increase) and $8.7M capital budget, outlined a $12M capital campaign to fund a library-to-learning‑commons renovation and program expansions including a larger luthier (guitar-building) program.
Northampton Community College representatives briefed the Bethlehem Area School District finance committee on Feb. 9 on the college’s proposed budgets and planned capital projects. Jason Loblaw, NCC chief financial officer, said the college is proposing an $85.5 million operating budget for the next fiscal year, a 3.25% increase, and an $8.7 million capital budget (a 1% rise). He said a projected $2,570,000 of tuition and fee increases and a $330,000 aggregate local sponsor increase are included in the current inputs, and noted a roughly $300,000 gap remaining that leadership will work to close over the coming months.
The presentation emphasized continued enrollment growth — up for a fourth straight year — and program areas driving demand, including health sciences, business, and trades. “We are proud of that cost,” Loblaw said when describing per-student costs and the college’s position among low-cost community colleges in the state.
College leadership also previewed a $12 million capital campaign to support its strategic plan. The campaign will fund renovations including converting the library into a ‘library learning commons,’ expanding a luthier program at the Fowler Southside Center to double capacity, and allocating approximately $4–5 million for scholarships across campuses. In discussion with the board, NCC staff described the planned learning commons as retaining research services while reconfiguring space into four ‘towers’: a book area; an innovation/makerspace with a mini fab lab for entrepreneurship classes; librarian and faculty development offices; and flexible multipurpose space for events and readings. NCC said it has $5 million in state funding committed toward the $10 million library project and will seek remaining funds through the campaign and the NCC Foundation.
Board members pressed on outcomes and operations. NCC said roughly 96% of recent graduates are employed or continuing education and provided examples of program-specific placement (100% placement in funeral services and certain health programs). The luthier program — run with partner Martin Guitar — currently serves about five students per cohort and will expand to allow up to 15 students per cohort (30 per academic cycle); NCC said it expects to add at least one full‑time lead instructor and other staff to support that capacity.
NCC officials said they anticipate no new debt in the coming fiscal year, projected modest changes to capital fee revenue from out‑of‑district students, and described continued efforts to increase dual‑enrollment articulation and open educational resources to reduce student costs. The district’s finance committee will see the NCC operating and capital budget items again on the Feb. 23 agenda for further consideration.