Tough summer for California community college students, officials say

California community college leaders warned Thursday that students will face difficulties enrolling in summer school classes because of reductions in state funding. Some community colleges are offering only half the number of course sections as last summer and are compiling long waiting lists of students seeking a classroom seat, they said.

The summer cuts come after the number of course sections at the colleges were reduced by about 6% on average statewide over last fall and spring semesters, according to California Community Colleges Chancellor Jack Scott. He estimated that 140,000 students were not able to enroll in any classes this year.

"We are really saddened to think there are people who have been planning all their lives to go to college and find the doors are closed," Scott said during a telephone news conference timed to highlight the issue as the Legislature starts to debate education funding for next year.

Among the summer school changes, the Grossmont-Cuyamaca Community College District in San Diego County reports a reduction of 50% and Bakersfield College reports a 28% reduction.  Schools say classes are filling up quickly and that thousands of students are on waiting lists, especially for basic classes needed for transfer or career requirements like English, history and biology.

Los Angeles City College in East Hollywood has canceled all summer courses, and the other eight campuses in the city college  system -- Valley, Pierce, West Los Angeles, Southwest, Harbor, Trade Technical, East Los Angeles and Mission -- are expected to offer reduced class schedules, officials said. Valley College has already announced that all its summer classes are full.

-- Larry Gordon and Gale Holland

Comments

[Fred]

at the same time, the top hedge fund trader last year made 4 billion dollars and paid 15% tax (wall street owns us)

[Quixote]

The State saved money by capping the FTEs per student during the regular school year and not counting summer school toward FTEs at all. That means community colleges get paid less per student. So they've been cutting their offerings to reduce the number of students.

Great way to save money, huh? Make it impossible to improve your chances for later while this recession drags on.

[MJ]

I couldn't get any classes I needed!! Yet we just dump money into the prisons! Way to go California! Glad you have your priorities straight!!

[John Q Citizen, Legal]

The map states that Los Angeles City College is in the city of LA.

[Dottie]

You should send a photographer on the first day of class. There are people lined up outside every classroom trying to get in. There were rumors that people have started counterfeiting add slips to try to get into classes last session.

[Carlos]

check their status!..this affects me too. no summer classes for me this year.

[Seen it all!]

This reminds me of when I started college. I am a "baby boomer." I attended the Cal State system. Beause of the sudden surge in the number of students entering the system it was difficult to get the required classes the first two years. It took me five years to graduate instead of four.

This is much worse. At least after two years I had a higher registration priority and was able to get a full load of classes and attend summer school to pick up some extra classes. These poor students face a continuing fight to get classes with no end in sight.