Community College students expected budget cuts this upcoming fall semester, but it seems like the budget will increase. Instead of classes being cut, there will in fact be more classes added in the fall.
As the district generates more funding, classes will continue to be added to the fall and spring semesters. Chancellor Constance Carroll hopes that with time the district might see summer and winter sessions return in 2014.
“Our top priority has always been service to our students,” Carroll said in an email interview. “Classes are not being cut at City College, and there are no plans to cut classes at City College.”
Carroll and the district worked hard to make sure that Prop. 30 was passed, so it can start getting things back to normal.
“The San Diego Community College District, including City College, supported and worked hard on ensuring the passage of Proposition 30, since it was our best hope for improving opportunities for students. Our top priority has always been service to our students,” Carroll said.
Before the spring semester started this year, classes were added and that gave more breathing room to the students. And according to Carroll, more will be added in the fall.
“In the spring semester, Districtwide, we have added a total of 446 class sections, which includes 105 additional class sections at City College. We are planning to add even more class sections for the fall and are waiting for the California budget decisions to be made so that we will know how many classes we can add,” Carroll said.
The passage of Prop. 30 last year seems to be benefiting community colleges this year, as it was proposed to increase taxes for those who have an income above $250,000. The money collected is supposed to go to the schools, 89 percent for K-12 schools and 11 percent to community colleges.
“I am heartened to see the state slowly rebounding with the possibility of some improvements in funding that will benefit our students, faculty, staff, and broader community,” Carroll said in her Chancellor’s Budget Message.
Over the past five years, California Community Colleges had their funds decreased at a total of $809 million.
Jacque Bell, City College’s vice president of administrative services also ensures that there will be more classes added next semester.
“There will be classes added next semester; I think preliminary thinking is around the summer and winter sessions, I think that’s the goal,” Bell said. “Adding buildings and square footage to campus is increasing our operating costs while the budget is not increasing.”
Bell expects the budget will stay the same, while the adding of classes will improve gradually over the upcoming semesters.
Last year, the California community colleges had to turn away around 500,000 students due to the budget cuts for student enrollment.
