CSUN University News Clippings

Community colleges say course cuts unlikely for fall

(June 9, 2009)

By Laurel Rosenhall

California community colleges have been a strong voice among those warning of the dire effects of state budget cuts on higher education. Despite that, local community college officials say it’s unlikely they’ll have to make any major cuts this fall.

Los Rios and Sierra College leaders say they’ll manage by holding steady on the number of courses they offer and reducing reserves.

Still, they’re urging students to be aggressive about signing up for fall courses.

Based on recent growth patterns, community college officials believe more students likely will be competing for the same number of classes. And, depending on the Legislature’s budget decisions, course sections could be reduced come spring.

California is struggling with a historic budget crisis, and lawmakers are trying to close a $24.3 billion deficit. Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has proposed $825 million in cuts to the state’s 110 community colleges, including reductions in per-student funding, physical education courses and support programs for disabled and disadvantaged students.

If the cuts go through as proposed, Los Rios colleges – including Sacramento City, American River, Cosumnes River and Folsom Lake – will probably have to cut 650 class sections in the spring, said spokeswoman Susie Williams.

Officials haven’t decided yet which subjects will be affected, but it would likely be general education requirements such as freshman English, Williams said.

“Each college will be doing everything they can to preserve programs and offer the progressive courses students need,” she said.

But by the spring, Williams said, cuts could force Los Rios to lay off faculty – the equivalent of 60 full- timers – and turn away up to 20,000 students.

Sierra College – with campuses in Placer and Nevada counties – has not planned for any layoffs or course cuts, said spokeswoman Sue Michaels. Its schools will be offering the same number of classes this fall as they did a year ago.

But that’s unusual because Sierra typically adds classes each fall to accommodate growing enrollment.

“Our class sizes are likely to get larger,” Michaels said.

Sierra College leaders hope to weather the budget situation through reducing the amount of money the school holds in reserves, Michaels said.

Sierra College trustees are meeting today to vote on reducing 2008-09 reserves from 10.64 percent of the school’s budget to 10 percent. Reserves for the 2009-10 school year could drop to 7.79 percent, according to college documents.

Publication: Sacramento Bee