Colleges and Universities across the state say while they've experienced negative effects from the ongoing recession, cost-saving measures such as budget cuts and efforts to increase revenues should pay off during the coming fiscal year.

State funding is a key unknown.

Shannon Reid, spokeswoman for the Community College System of New Hampshire, said she doesn't know how much community colleges will get for fiscal year 2010. The State Legislature still is working out the details the of a state budget, which may not be finalized until July, she said.

"That is still an outstanding question," she said. "We usually rely on a modest increase (in state funding) each year, but this year, we do not know. It may be that we are level-funded."

The Community College System encompasses seven institutions statewide, including Lakes Region Community College, New Hampshire Technical Institute in Central New Hampshire and Great Bay Community College in Portsmouth.

Reid said a third of the system's budget comes from state funding, while about half comes from tuition and fees.

Courtesy photo The University of New Hampshire's Thompson Hall.

The rest, less than 20 percent, comes from a variety of federal funds, which are used for specific initiatives at individual colleges within the system.

The system does not have endowment funds, except for a scholarship fund which is now back to its average amount of $5 million after dipping last year.

"It has recovered," Reid said, adding that the system this year was able to give out more money in scholarships than the year before.

During the 2008-2009 school year, the school was able to give $700,000 in scholarships as opposed to $220,000 during the 2007-2008 school year.

The community college system's main goal is to keep schools affordable for students, Reid said, but while tuition rates have remained the same for two of last four years, the system may have to raise tuition next year if the state level-funds or cuts funding.

"Ideally we'd like not to raise tuition again but it is one option if we receive less funding," Reid said.

Full-time tuition at the colleges now ranges from $4,200 per semester for a minimum course load to $5,600 for a full-time course load, Reid said.

Mark Edelstein, president of Lakes Region Community College, agreed the 2010 financial year is the one they're concerned about.

"This year has been fine," he said. "Enrollment is up 3 percent, and we were able to keep tuition at the previous year's level."

In 2008, enrollment was up by 11 percent, he added.

The college also will be receiving $190,000 in congressionally directed award money, he said. It will be used to expand the college's budding energy services and technology program, begun last year to train students in energy efficient alternatives and green construction.

The state seems to be on track to fund the Community College System at 97 percent of the 2009 operating budget during financial year 2010, then go back up to 100 percent of the 2009 operating budget in 2011, he said.

"That doesn't sound too bad at first," he said. "But because of a mandated salary increase for state employees and increased operating costs due to inflation, being funded at 97 percent of 2009 levels in 2010 and 100 percent of 2009 levels in 2011 will make things even more difficult."

The Community College System will continue to analyze programs and operating costs to make sure they are being as cost-effective as possible, he said.

The board is constantly looking at how to expand or bring in popular programs while phasing out programs that are seeing declining enrollment.

One cost-saving initiative has been the decision to close the Great Bay Community College's Stratham campus and merge it with the Portsmouth campus, which is being expanded and renovated.

According to Lisa Proulx, spokeswoman for Great Bay Community College, the merger was prompted by expansion of the college's programs, a steady growth in enrollment and a decision to maximize operational efficiencies.

President Will Arvelo said enrollment growth at Great Bay Community College been in the 5 to 10 percent range over the past three years.

The expanded Portsmouth campus will include increased classroom and lab space, including a new nursing and surgical technology suite, an expanded library and a state-of-the-art biotechnology facility.

The economy also has affected the University System of New Hampshire, which includes Plymouth State University in Plymouth and the University of New Hampshire in Durham.

Chris Williams, spokesman for Plymouth State University, said the net value of the university's endowment has decreased by about 11 percent over the past year, The decrease was due to poor market performance in some areas, but the level of decrease was offset by additional financial contributions.

In terms of state funding, Williams said the university is pleases that the Governor has indicated that he will maintain approximately the same level of financial support as last year.

Tuition is expected to increase next year. The 2008/2009 tuition was $6,600. Pending USNH Board of Trustee approval, in-state tuition for 2009/2010 will be $6,996, which is a six percent increase.

Williams said the university continues to build it's financial aid. This year, the university increased financial aid by 12 percent.

Williams he will not be able to confirm the University's undergraduate enrollment numbers until the fall semester is under way. He added enrollment numbers for the College of Graduate Studies continue to grow.

The College of Graduate Studies continues to grow as a record number of students graduated this spring, he added, including 14 who studied at the Shanghai American School in China.

Williams said the university has undertaken a host of cost saving measures.

"Plymouth State University has made a significant effort to manage and reduce operating costs," Williams said. "This year the University worked to reduce energy expenses by strategically pre-purchasing heating oil cooperatively with other schools to realize greater savings due to the economy of scale."

Also, a simple change, such as removing food trays from Prospect Dining hall, has saved the university $165,000 and 35 tons of food waste annually.

Plymouth State is also ramping up its fundraising efforts.

The university's fundraising went very well last year, Williams said and is poised to reach greater heights in coming years, because a new integrated University Advancement Division has been created.

The university is also exploring a variety of ways to increase revenues, including expanding its graduate programs and launching an online MBA program. and

They are also exploring ways to use facilities during winter break and over the summer when our students are not on campus.

Williams said the most significant long-range strategic effort for the university is the new ALLWell Center complex. Phase I is under way as construction of the PSU Ice Arena and Welcome Center began in late April.

Kim Billings, spokeswoman for the University of New Hampshire, said the university will be holding an open budget forum on Monday to discuss the institution's budget situation in detail.

Given reduced state appropriations, a decline in the value of the university's endowment and fewer-than-expected research dollars, the university needs to close a gap of $8.3 million in their operating budget for financial year 2010, she said.

"We will do this without compromising the quality of the education we provide to our students, the research we undertake to further human understanding, or the service we provide to the people of New Hampshire," she said.

University President Mark Huddleston already has approved some cost-saving measures after lengthy talks with the university's Central Budget Committee. They include freezing salaries for all non-union employees whose annual pay is more than $40,000 and seeking approval from the University System of New Hampshire's Board of Trustess to raise resident undergraduate tuition, she said, adding that the board will vote in June.

With a tuition increase, the university is also seeking to increase its financial aid budget to keep college affordable for the largest number of students possible, she said.

The university is "aggressively pursuing opportunities to increase revenue," she added, including applying for American Recovery and Reinvestment Act money.

Gov. John Lynch has dedicated $3 million to the University System of New Hampshire through the State Fiscal Stabilization Fund. Billings said of the $3 million, roughly $2 million will flow to UNH.

Another $1.8 million in Reinvestment Act dollars has been secured to support Wildcat Transit.

The university is also in the process of submitting applications under new energy grant programs announced by the Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Energy, Billing said.

"We also are examining ways to apply for stimulus funds for capital projects involving our science and engineering buildings," she said.

Kathleen Williams, spokeswoman for New England College in Henniker, a private institution, said although their endowment fund is down by 20 percent, they remain on good financial footing.

Williams added that the college has no immediate plans for hiring freezes or layoffs and they continue to move forward with capital projects such as renovating the college's covered bridge and building an artificial-surface playing field.

Lakes Region Community College is one of several colleges and universities bracing for another tough economic year. Daryl Carlson/ Citizen photo

She added that they were recently informed by Congressman Paul Hodes that he helped secure $300,000 in federal dollars to facilitate the development of an alterative heating source at the school.

Williams said New England College over the past several years has doubled the size of its student body, which is now at 2,000.

"This college has remained financially strong throughout this economic downturn," she said. "We operate under a conservative fiscal policy, have low debt, and we don't rely on our endowment for educational services and salaries."