What do the proposed budget cuts mean for California community colleges?
The governor has proposed a 10 percent cut across the board, including K-12 public education and community college. For community colleges, the cuts will mean a net loss of 50,000 students. (In the California State University system (CSU), its 10,000 students, and in the University of California (UC) its 5000 students.) It will also mean a reduction in course selections and counselors, leading to a longer time to obtain a degree, and fewer services for students. All of this said, parents and prospective students should not be discouraged. The figure of 50,000 fewer spots in community college is out of 2 million students total. There is still plenty of opportunity, plenty of access. When will the proposal cuts start having an impact on community colleges? If the cuts are implemented, they will affect enrollment for the 2008-09 school year. These cuts will lower the base from which future budgets are developed. And if the budget crisis persists, things could get even worse. But right now
