California Community Colleges Prepare for Budget Cuts
Students at California Community Colleges will feel the effects of a $149-million budget cut. The state’s over 100 community colleges will be forced to cut classes and layoff staff.
At some schools, scheduling classes has become a game of chance. Students vie for a limited number of spots in classes. Most students are unable to register for the classes they would like and instead simply try to get spots in any available class.
“I need at least twelve units to keep my health benefits so I’m trying to get any class I really can,” Pasadena City College Student Olivia Hullet said.
Pasadena City College Spokesman Juan Gutierrez said that the school is doing everything it can to keep the quality of the education high as the funding decreases.
“We were cut in December, and then we were cut in January, and now we were cut by another $2.8 million just this last week so in total from December, we’ve been cut $5 million,” Gutierrez said. “We’re still offering more classes than the state is actually paying us for so we’re out of pocket for these classes because were so interesting in keeping access to our students.”
Community colleges across California recommend registering for classes at the start of registration, but some students are still worried about graduating on time.
“It’s going to take longer to get out of here,” Hullet said.
