Califorania Education Budget Mgt521

California’s Educational Budget Cuts

Community Colleges

“The California Community Colleges is the largest higher education system in the nation. The system is comprised of 72 districts, 110 colleges and enrolls more than 2.9 million students. Community colleges provide basic skills education, workforce training and courses to prepare students to transfer to four-year universities. Colleges also provide opportunities for personal enrichment and lifelong learning.” (California Community Colleges Chancellor's Office, 2009)

With a stricter criteria of admissions to universities throughout the state and the increase in the unemployment rate has caused more student to enroll in community colleges. Enrollment has shown an increase of 4.9 percent in relation to the 2007/08 academic year. College officials are concerned that “the shortfall in funding is placing stress on a system that is already bursting at the seams and threatening its ability to sustain the record number of students it serves.” (California Community Colleges Chancellor's Office, 2009)

The Affect on our Community Colleges:

While accommodating the increasing community population, local community colleges are being required to operate within their domains with very little if any state funding support. Many Community Colleges have taken drastic actions that affect levels of Management as well as the Students and Faculty. Community Colleges in several areas, struggle to reorganize numerous departments to endure these state budget cuts. Implementing new yet measurable standard operating procedures for the Administrative and Academic departments is critical to minimize the repercussion to the quality of education while initiating the cut backs.

School Districts action:

- Reduction in course offerings by 20 percent

- Larger class sizes

- Higher Tuition

- Reduction in part time Adjunct Faculty

- Increase Workload for Full time Faculty

- Salary reduction for all college employees

- Class size...