January 28, 2010

Trustees Intensify Funding Advocacy--
Pledge to Work with State & Local Communities

In response to California’s ongoing fiscal crisis, the San Diego Community College District Board of Trustees adopted a resolution (attached) today that pledges to work with interested parties, locally and statewide, to:

• Advocate for a balanced approach to provide adequate funding for education;
• Advocate for a simple legislative majority to replace the two-thirds supermajority in the State Legislature for purposes of passing a state budget and changes in the tax structure.

SDCCD Chancellor Constance Carroll stated, "Community colleges are a primary part of workforce training and reducing unemployment. With enrollment demand at its highest in California history and with unemployment topping ten percent, this is a time to support education, especially community colleges, so that improvements in the San Diego economy can be realized."

Board President Rich Grosch said, "Cutting education any time, particularly during an economic downturn, is counter-intuitive. Community colleges promote California's workforce by providing qualified graduates that get good-paying jobs and, in turn, increase revenue for local and state governments. In essence, this state needs to determine a constant, stable funding source for education and avoid the roller coaster approach it has utilized."

American Federation of Teachers President Jim Mahler and City College Professor Kelly Mayhew, a faculty leader, commended the SDCCD Board for taking the action.

BACKGROUND:

To close its massive budget deficit, the state slashed funding for the current fiscal year to its 110 community colleges, the 23-campus California State University and the 10-campus University of California, one of the nation's leading research institutions.

As a result, California college students have been faced with crowded classrooms, less access to faculty and counselors, fewer campus services and more difficulty getting classes they need to graduate - all while paying higher fees.

Shortly before the start of the 2009-2010 academic year, Community College League of California President Scott Lay said that he expected the community college system, which enrolled about 2.7 million students last year (2008-2009), to have about 250,000 fewer students this year.

At the same time, the Associated Press reported that California's future was at risk if fewer people earn college degrees, laid-off workers fail to develop the skills employers demand and universities lose their ability to recruit and retain top researchers.

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Related Attachment: Board of Trustees State Budget Crisis Resolution (PDF)