ELIZABETH CITY N.C.—The head of the University of North Carolina system says Elizabeth City State University faces a shortfall of $5 million.
UNC President Tom Ross blamed the shortfall on reduced enrollment and state budget cuts, The Daily Advance of Elizabeth City reported.
Ross warned faculty and staff Tuesday that “hard decisions” are ahead, pointing out the biggest expense is personnel. No specific cuts or layoffs were announced.
Interim chancellor Charles Becton reported enrollment for the fall semester is just over 2,400 students. School officials had hoped for 2,500.
The school also had hoped the projected shortfall would be around $3.5 million.
The school has cut pay for a number of faculty members.
The school also has also increased instructors’ workloads and class sizes.
A pending reorganization at the school has prompted the school to delay the search for a permanent chancellor, said Abdul Rasheed, chairman of the school’s board of trustees.
Ross said the school will focus on some of its more successful programs, including aviation, education and criminal justice. The school also is considering expanding the number of courses offered in health-related fields.
“It’s critical to this region of North Carolina that ECSU be successful,” Ross said.
