Newly elected California Gov. Jerry Brown proposed $1.4 billion in budget cuts for higher education last week, sending ripples of fear through the University of California, California State University and California Community College systems.
While Mendocino College President Kathy Lehner says she's worried about potential cuts, she insists that students who want to come to Mendocino College will find the doors open.
The UC and CSU systems will both face $500 million in cuts to their budgets while California community colleges like Mendocino College would be cut by $400 million. This constitutes a 6.8 percent budget reduction for the community colleges that could possibly affect up to 350,000 students who may be turned away from attending classes, according to Jack Scott, California's community college chancellor.
Brown also wants the cost per unit at the community college level increased from $26 to $36. The $10 generated per unit would be used to pay for Brown's growth plan, which provides the possibility for colleges to get more money if they increase the number of full-time students by 1.9 percent from the previous year.
Tuition paid by students goes directly to state coffers, and community colleges are allotted $4,565 per full-time student from the state.
Brown's budget dangles the carrot of extra funding through the $10 tuition increase for colleges that grow their full-time student attendance. For Mendocino College, this would mean an increase of
about 60 full-time students. The college currently has about 5,000 students, 3,000 of them enrolled full time.Brown's emphasis for student programs at community colleges is courses that transfer to higher education, courses that provide job training, or courses that teach basic skills and limiting recreational classes. He also emphasizes the need to increase the number of math, science and biology classes.
While Brown's budget may sound draconian, the Mendocino College administration anticipated cutbacks and planned ahead.
"We saw it coming," said Lehner. "We've done a lot of work in the last two to three years."
In an effort to mitigate possible upcoming budget cuts, Mendocino College began leaving vacant personnel positions unfilled to avoid future layoffs. Currently, the college has 18 vacant positions that will not be filled.
Lehner praised the community college's faculty for agreeing to a 4 percent pay cut to take place over an 18-month period and the classified and administrative staff for taking 10 furlough days.
"Our employees have been very understanding so far and we're asking them to do more, although I don't know how long we can expect their patience." said college Vice President Larry Perryman.
Despite 83 percent of the college's budget going to pay for wages, MC will not be laying off any personnel or teachers, according to Perryman. Instead of eliminating employees, some positions will be consolidated, transferred, become part time or have decreased hours of work.
"We have fewer people working less hours," said Lehner. "MC is very lean and operating efficiently."
She foresees no problems for students coming to Mendocino College next year should Brown's budget be adopted, but warns that classes will fill up sooner and student schedules may be less flexible. "Students may not get the classes they want at the time the want, but classes will be available," Lehner said, adding "We also provide priority registration to returning students."
Many students who attend community college do so with scholarship funds or a fee waiver coming from either the state or federal governments. That will continue, says Lehner, so that proposed fee hikes should not prohibit needy students from attending.
While art, music, theater and physical education may see a drop in classes offered, Perryman says the MC sports program isn't scheduled to receive any cuts as analysis shows the programs pay for themselves. "Athletes are mostly full time so they generate revenue," said Perryman.
The solar field installed in November of 2009 has also helped cushion Brown's economic blow by offsetting energy costs. Perryman estimates the panels have saved MC more than $300,000 since installation.
Info box: Mendocino College budget impact:
Assuming June tax package is approved:
State general fund -$1,255,000
Increased student fees $345,000
Net reduction at Mendocino College: -$910,000
If June tax package fails and Prop. 98 is funded at minimum:
State general fund -$1,945,000
Increased student fees $345,000
Net reduction at Mendocino College $1,600,000
If June tax package fails and Prop. 98 is suspended:
State general fund -$2,824,000
Increased student fees $345,000
Net reduction at Mendocino College $ 2,479,000
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