Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Higher Education topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Blue Ridge Community College presents FY2027 requests, presses need for a replacement Transylvania campus
Summary
Blue Ridge Community College President Dr. Laura Leatherwood asked the Board for FY2027 operating ($746,559) and capital ($76,500) support, outlined workforce and program successes, and warned that replacing the 75‑year‑old Transylvania campus will likely take about 10 years and require state funding.
Dr. Laura Leatherwood, president of Blue Ridge Community College, presented the college’s Transylvania County campus report and FY2027 operating and capital budget requests at the Board’s May 11 meeting.
She said the local campus serves roughly 452 degree‑seeking students and 455 workforce continuing education participants, operates with 14 full‑time and 10 part‑time staff on two buildings, and offers programs ranging from nursing and respiratory therapy to welding and automotive technology. The campus reported a suite of recent accomplishments, including recognition as an Aspen Prize Top 200 finalist, a Top 10 Bellwether Award finalist for its apprenticeship program, advancement to a Gold Military Friendly School and the highest licensure pass rate in the North Carolina Community College System.
Dr. Leatherwood asked the county to consider a FY2027 operating request of approximately $746,559 (to cover plant operations, insurance and campus security) and a capital request of about $76,500 to replace epoxy flooring in the automotive program. She emphasized the need for a long‑term plan to replace the current campus — a former elementary school approximately 75 years old — and presented a timeline showing that, even on an accelerated schedule, a replacement campus could take about 10 years to deliver. Commissioners noted the difficulty of identifying suitable property and discussed the community and state funding that would be necessary for a project likely costing well above the County’s solo capacity.
Commissioner Larry Chapman said he and Commissioner Dalton had discussed the college’s facility needs with Senator Corbin and stressed the importance of State assistance because the County could not independently finance a project estimated to exceed $50 million. Dr. Leatherwood encouraged exploring potential property and partnerships that would strengthen the college’s ability to seek State support.
The Board thanked Dr. Leatherwood for the presentation. No formal funding decisions were made at the meeting; the college’s request is under review as part of the FY2027 budget process.
