DUBLIN — Full-time faculty and staff, and part-time staff, are receiving a one-time bonus this month at Bladen Community College.
The trustees on Tuesday evening unanimously approved $575 for full-timers and $275 for part-timers. The gifts are subject to employment as of Wednesday, and remaining employed when the bonuses are included in December paychecks.
The college is able to make the payments as allowed by state statute, and is in addition to pay raises from the state of North Carolina. Funding is through the performance-based funding carry-forward from 2020-21.
Community colleges, all 58 of them in the state, were granted a one-time stabilization of $80 million in the recently passed state budget. In a memo to trustees, college vice president for finances and administration Jay Stanley wrote, “This means that in spite of the enrollment declines we experienced during the past couple of years, our budget will be adjusted or ‘stabilized’ so we will not face any immediate cuts as we attempt to regain our enrollments by 2023.”
In January, employees will be receiving a 2.5 percent increase that is retroactive to July. In addition, those who are making less than $75,000 will receive a $1,500 bonus; those making $75,000 or more get $1,000.
The state budget also will provide the faculty and staff with 2.5 percent raises in fiscal year 2022-23.
The president’s report included updates on the Full STEAM Ahead program, the state budget, and Dr. Amanda Lee’s thoughts on faculty retention and recruitment. She made calls on behalf of faculty and staff to state House Rep. William Brisson and state Sen. Bill Rabon during the General Assembly’s budget process.