Although the program received $2.3 million in funding from the Legislature - its largest allotment ever - UVSC's Ted Ungricht worries the money may not be enough.
"We are going to have to review our courses and look at what we can offer for next year," said Ungricht, director of UVSC's concurrent enrollment program.
UVSC has about 60,000 concurrent enrollment slots filled each year.
He said most colleges never intended to charge the full $30 per credit hour HB151 would have allowed. Instead, they would have used it to supplement funding in years when the Legislature doesn't fund the program.
"Concurrent enrollment is growing at 6 percent or 7 percent a year, and unless the Legislature is willing to increase funding by that much each year, we're going to slip into being underfunded really quickly," Ungricht said.
Opponents of the bill, including the Utah State Board of Education, worried that the fee would exclude poorer students from taking college courses while still in high school. The board recommended that Huntsman veto the bill.
Like Ungricht, Utah State University administrators worry about the future of concurrent enrollment programs.
"I think [the Legislature's allocation] will keep us running where we're at, but we need to look at something different if we are to continue growing," said Vincent Lafferty, director of concurrent education at USU.
Lafferty recognizes concurrent enrollment has never been fully funded, with universities having to pay for professors who teach high school courses, but he also realizes it can be a recruiting tool.
The 39,000 enrollment slots USU has are largely filled by students in rural school districts, and Lafferty wants to see that tradition continue.
"It's fulfilling a real need," he said.
HB151's sponsor, Rep. Margaret Dayton, R-Orem, agrees.
"There will be fewer offerings for high school students. Everyone is going to be hurt by the vetoing of this bill. It's very, very disappointing," said Dayton, who plans to bring back the bill if she wins her upcoming race for state senator.
smcfarland@sltrib.com
Concurrent enrollment isn't free
* The issue: Funding concurrent enrollment courses
* What's new: Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr. vetoed a bill that would have allowed colleges to charge up to $30 per credit hour for concurrent enrollment courses. College administrators worry they may have to reduce course offerings if the Legislature won't commit to future funding.
* What's next: Rep. Margaret Dayton, R-Orem, said she will propose the bill again in next year's session if she wins her race for state senator.
