Community Colleges All But Eliminate Summer School Classes

My college isn't mentioned at the article, but we're barely offering anything as well --- and this will be the second summer I've not been teaching (I'm enjoying it, actually).

At the same time, the faculty Academic Senate is up in arms about LBCC's administration advocating on behalf of SB1550 in Sacramento (Motion 2 at the link). Recall Santa Monica College's proposal to charge students a few hundreds bucks a unit for selected course offerings? I think it's a good idea. There's a report at UCLA's Daily Bruin, "Senate Bill 1550 proposes pilot program that charges higher fees to help offset community college cuts." The Academic Senate says it is opposed to "establishing an extension program based on funding from courses offered at the actual cost rather than courses funded with state apportionment." Got that? Opposed to funding offered at "actual cost," as if that "actual cost" goes away if the state government pays for it rather than students who need the classes. Amazing, isn't it?

In any case, here's the report on the summer classes at the Los Angeles Times, "College summer school in California largely a thing of the past":

In an informal survey of about half of the state's 112 community colleges, conducted by the chancellor's office, more than a third reported reduced offerings this summer and eight campuses planned no summer sessions at all. Overall, enrollment and course offerings have plummeted and are at their lowest level in 15 years. From 2008 to 2011, the number of students served fell nearly 43%.

Santa Monica College found in a recent study that 15 Los Angeles-area community colleges this summer are offering only a third of the courses they offered in 2008, equivalent to a loss of 6,000 teaching assignments and 168,000 classroom seats.

"The state cuts are in the range of 13%, so where does that come from?" asked Don Girard, director of government relations at the popular school. "Summer and winter session are the areas the elected board has the most authority over."

Santa Monica College is offering about 745 credit and non-credit classes, about the same as last year. Tuition from a large population of international and out-of-state students helps to fund the program, Girard said.

The problem is especially acute in the huge Los Angeles Community College District, where only one of the nine campuses, East Los Angeles College, is offering a full slate of courses — about 330, which is a 30% reduction from the previous year, said Richard Moyer, vice president of academic affairs.

A controversial new policy this year gives priority registration to continuing East L.A. students, leaving those at other campuses in the district with fewer options, Moyer said. About 15,000 students are expected to enroll, and the school could easily have doubled that number if it had the resources, Moyer said.

Although Pierce College and Los Angeles Trade Tech are offering a couple dozen credit courses, Los Angeles Harbor College is typical of others in the district, offering only a smattering of specialized or non-credit courses mostly funded by grants. Harbor student Devin Green managed to find a biology class he needs at El Camino College, which is outside the Los Angeles district. Green, 21, was lucky to get the course and managed to do so only because he has been attending both campuses and was able to register early.

Another Harbor student, Andrew Mestman, said he had unsuccessfully tried to enroll in summer classes for several years and has given up this time. He said he needs one math class to complete requirements to transfer to a four-year institution.

"At Compton College last year, there were 60 people in class and 15 more on a waiting list, so what's the point?" said Mestman, 20. "It's like gambling every summer."

It's not just students who are frustrated. Ken Sherwood, a public speaking instructor at Los Angeles City College, said this will be the third year in a row he hasn't taught a summer course, after 20 years of never missing such assignments. And because he's a full-time employee and can't apply for unemployment, his income will take a hit.

In previous years he might have been able to pick up a class in another district, but cutbacks have eliminated that option this year. He's unsure what he's going to do.

"It's not like I can walk into a McDonald's and say I need a job for two months, that's not practical," said Sherwood.

I guess I'm lucky. I've got money saved for summer, and of course my wife is working. It's going to be tight, but I get to be home with my family.