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AHOSKIE – As the host county for Roanoke-Chowan Community College, Hertford County contributes the largest share of the college’s “local level” operating costs.

However, there is an effort underway to show the college’s importance to the region, not just Hertford County, with the hopes that Bertie and Northampton officials will increase their respective annual financial commitments to R-CCC.

As noted in her report to the Hertford County Board of Commissioners at their regularly scheduled meeting on March 17, R-CCC President Dr. Murray Williams provided percentages of enrollment by student headcount per county and county-level funding to the college for each of the past three fiscal years.

In 2022-23, individuals from Hertford County comprised 44 percent of the total student enrollment while the county-level financial commitment represented 91 percent of the college’s local funding.

During that same period of time, the number of students from Bertie County comprised 21 percent of the total enrollment and 4 percent of the college’s local funding. Students from Northampton County represented 22 percent of the enrollment and the county contributed 5 percent of the local funding.

For 2023-24, Hertford County students comprised 45 percent of the enrollment and county officials supplied 88 percent of the local funding. Bertie’s numbers were 21 percent of the enrollment and 4 percent of the funding while Northampton students represented 22 percent of the enrollment while the county’s share of the local funding totaled 8 percent.

During the most recent fiscal year (2024-25), Hertford County students comprised 53 percent of the total enrollment while the county chipped in 88 percent of the local funds. Bertie students represented 17 percent of the enrollment while the county-level remained at 4 percent. Northampton students comprised 16 percent of the enrollment and the county again contributed 8 percent of the college’s local funds.

“Historically, Hertford County has provided approximately 88–to-91 percent of Roanoke-Chowan Community College’s county-level funding,” Dr. Williams said. “Beginning this fiscal year, both Northampton and Bertie counties have been requested to contribute funding proportionate to their respective student enrollment figures.

“As the college serves students from Hertford, Northampton, and Bertie counties, aligning financial support with enrollment ensures that unexpected costs, such as those arising from inflation, are equitably distributed,” Dr. Williams added.

She stressed that the college remains in a strong financial position and continues to adhere to prudent fiscal management practices.

“The community college is the workhorse of the workforce, and Hertford County is committed to supporting Roanoke-Chowan Community College and its three-county service area — Hertford, Northampton, and Bertie,” said Andre Lassiter, Chairman of the Hertford County Board of Commissioners at the board’s March 17 meeting.

“Workforce development doesn’t stop at county lines,” Lassiter noted. “We are investing in the people of this region. When you train a nurse, a CDL driver, a firefighter, an EMT, a plumber, an HVAC technician, an electrician, or a carpenter, you’re not just impacting one person, you’re strengthening our entire region.”

Lassiter encouraged his local government colleagues in Bertie and Northampton counties, to join a regional commitment to partnering with R-CCC.

“I urge our neighboring counties, Northampton and Bertie, to join us in supporting Roanoke-Chowan Community College. Together, we can drive economic growth, expand career opportunities, and build a stronger future for the entire region, not just for Hertford County,” Lassiter said.