As the San Diego Community College District enter into the new school year, many are seeing firsthand the significant effects the state budget has had on higher education. Programs are impacted across the board with increasing student enrollment, despite the rising cost of tuition and fees.
SDCC students are finding they’re laidback, easygoing attitude tested by the many inconveniences placed on them by the state government and their continued inability to decide on the proper course of action to take with the state budget.
The counseling office is overflowing with irate students waiting as long as 3-4 hours to be seen. The financial aid office is surrounded by apathetic faces as students bear long lines dragging around the building. The bookstore is stocked with outrageously priced textbooks and supplies. And in the end, some students will find themselves shut-out of already filled classes. But still they push on, knowing what needs to be done to get where they want to be.
This is the San Diego spirit. This city was home to pioneers. Discovered by adventurers. Developed by visionaries with the tenacity and drive to see those visions come to life. And San Diegans have always possessed this spirit. And it shows now, as they continue to struggle through these tough economic times that has forced them to deal with, not only the country’s budget crisis, but their own state and city’s economic downfalls.
And although times are difficult currently, our district officials have worked hard to continue to provide quality education and room for the increasing number of students enrolling.
It’s going to be a rough road ahead, but City College students will not be deterred from the challenges they will surely face. After all, they are San Diegans.