The Tennessee Technology Center at Elizabethton, which has a record enrollment of 414 students this fall, is facing a budget reduction of $100,000, which is about six percent of its state appropriations for the fiscal year.
Jerry Patton, director, said the "appropriation reversion" will be partially offset by an increase in revenue generated by the spike in enrollment. TTC-Elizabethton offers classes in Mountain City, Bristol, Kingsport and Elizabethton. In the last reporting period, TTC-Elizabethton had a 10 percent increase in FTE (full-time equivalency) enrollment on which state funding is based.
In the past, when unemployment increased, enrollment at TTC-Elizabethton increased, proportionately, as more people sought technical training for jobs still available in the region, according to Patton.
"Enrollment in each of the nine full-time training programs at TTC-Elizabethton is at a capacity level. Due to this fact, we do not anticipate having to eliminate any full-time training programs as a cost-savings measure," Patton said.
Currently, TTC-Elizabethton has a waiting list for Welding, Electricity-Electronics and Practical Nursing training programs. In an effort to reduce the waiting list, TTC-Elizabethton added night classes in Welding and Electricity-Electronics and plans to offer Pipefitting in the evening in January, all in response to employer requests in the region for additional skilled workers, according to Patton.
"We are doing all we can to generate the biggest return on taxpayer investment to benefit students and employers. Should additional cuts be required, it may well be necessary to look at programs and positions. The average age of our students is 32. They are serious about learning the necessary technical skills they need to secure jobs that are still available in the region,"Patton said.