The Legislature’s Public Higher Education Study Committee has called for a performance audit for the Community College System of New Hampshire, after a student and two staff members complained about its schools.
At this point, there’s not enough material for an audit to go forward and legislators are asking current and former students, staff and faculty to contact them with written testimony about their experiences within the community college system.
“There were enough complaints that it prompted the higher education committee to seek to perform an audit,”said Sen. John Reagan, a Deerfield Republican and the member of the committee asking for testimony.
“CCSNH has been asked by the committee to share information about the macroeconomic forces and trends that are affecting higher education nationally, and factors specific to the state of New Hampshire such as demographics, workforce needs and concerns about college affordability, that shape our strategic planning and operations,” Shannon Reid, a spokeswoman for the community college system, wrote in an emailed statement. “We look forward to that conversation.”
Reagan said the comments he’s received about the community college system include “some distress at the declining reputation of the school(s).”
“We put a lot of taxpayer money into that system, and if they’re not leading people into good jobs . . . it’s a reason to be alarmed,” he said. “If we’re taking money from people and we’re supposed to produce a highly trained workforce, I want to make sure we’re doing it.”
Faculty cuts at some of the state’s community colleges sparked controversy last year, prompting faculty and some students to complain that administrators were spending money unwisely.
But CCSNH administrators said they were simply balancing their budget and trying to keep the cost of tuition as low as possible while prioritizing science and technology programs that would train students to get high-paying jobs.
Tuition at New Hampshire’s community colleges is expensive compared with other states; the current price tag is $200 per credit for in-state students.
Reagan said he is looking for any comments about the school and also wants to hear about the positive experiences of students and staff. Legislators will proceed with an audit if they get enough testimony to warrant one, he said.
“Any good news is also very welcome,” Reagan added.
Reagan is looking for comments by June 6 and may be contacted at john.reagan111@gmail.com.
(Ella Nilsen can be reached at 369-3322, enilsen@cmonitor.com or on Twitter @ella_nilsen.)