Frequently Asked Questions State Budget Impacts College of the Canyons (Updated 2/7/11)

How has the state budget situation affected College of the Canyons?

In 2009-10, College of the Canyons had its state funding cut by $4.2 million.  No additional cuts have been made in current budget year (2010-11). 

However, the budget currently proposed for 2011-12 calls for a $400 million cut to community colleges statewide.  At College of the Canyons, our share would be $3.7 million.  But that may be just the beginning.

The 2011-12 budget assumes $12 billion in new revenue from tax extensions that would be approved on the June ballot.  If the extensions are not placed on the ballot, or not approved by voters, additional cuts are expected.

California’s community college system could be cut by $800 million or more.  For College of the Canyons, that would mean budget cuts between $6.5 million and $10 million.

How will students be affected?

Students will need to be much more focused when they register for classes and select classes that meet as many of their needs as possible from the beginning of the registration process.

It is unlikely that a student who registers for a class then drops it thinking that he or she can pick up the same class at a different time will be successful since the class may, indeed, not be offered at another time. 

Additionally, their seat in the class that was dropped will likely be immediately filled by another student.

We have proactively communicated with students and the community about the need to register for classes early, not to assume they can make changes to their classes with the ease that they have in the past, and have impressed upon students that classes will fill early. 

Students should have their current email, telephone numbers and postal addresses on file with the Admissions and Records office so they can be advised of any changes that may affect them.

If a continuing student elects not to register during the proscribed appointment time, opting to register later, he or she may find that the classes needed are no longer available.

The new budget legislation proposes raising student enrollment fees from $26 per unit to $36 per unit.  The legislature makes enrollment fee decisions, NOT the colleges!

In past years there were plenty of classes with anywhere from 15 to 20 students in them.  Now we hear that classes with that number of students will be cancelled.  Why is that?

It all relates to how colleges are funded.  Simply put, when a class is offered, the state generally assumes that each instructor will teach a class of 30 students.

If the class is full (with 30 students), the college is reimbursed by the state for each of those students and the funding is maximized.

If, however, an instructor is hired to teach a class that should have 30 students but only 15 show up, the college loses money.  In good economic times when funding is “healthy,” most colleges can afford to “absorb” some of those losses.  

However, in times like we are experiencing now, that is not a viable option. 

In the latter scenario, if we were to allow two classes of 15 students to continue, the 30 empty seats would be the equivalent of one whole additional class that we could offer.  So, often we will make the decision to offer classes that are historically well enrolled versus offering those that historically are in demand by smaller numbers of students. 

Exceptions, however, will always be considered – especially when a low-enrolled class may be needed to meet degree requirements for students.

It is important for students to understand that the changes community colleges are making in response to the budget situation will likely require them to look at registration for classes and their college lives in a “new way.” 

In the past few years, when the economy was a lot healthier, colleges like COC could often offer multiple class sections on different days, at a variety of times, with a variety of instructors. 

Students were often able to work their college classes in around their otherwise busy lives. 

It is very likely that with fewer class offerings in the coming years, students may have to take a class when they can get it and balance their work lives, social lives and other concerns around it.

Why is the college still advertising in newspapers, magazines and on the radio if you have more students already than you are getting reimbursed by the state for?

Like any other business, College of the Canyons offers a variety of products. In order for consumers (students, businesses, community members, etc.) to be aware of and acquire those products, they have to know they are available – the essence of advertising.  We are aware that new people come into our valley who don’t know who we are or what our products are, so we need to keep our name and what we offer in all forms of media.  At the same time, when we modify our products or create new ones that our “consumers” may want to avail themselves of, advertising helps us to make that information available. 

If you are cancelling classes for students, why are you still building on your campuses?

Building funds and operational funds come from different sources.  Building funds come largely from bonds passed both locally and statewide, that statutorily MUST be used for building.  Legal restrictions, such as those included in Proposition 39 under which COC’s Measures M & C were passed, specifically say that the money can’t be used for salaries or other operating expenses.  Despite the current economic downturn, long-range planning dictates that we build facilities that will meet the needs of the future.  It is important to point out that just prior to the current economic downturn we didn’t have enough classroom and lab spaces during high-demand times.  With demand anticipated to only increase in the future, it is imperative that we continue to expand to meet those needs.  It is also important to point out that every time you see a building under construction, it means that people have been put to work; that building products are being purchased; heavy equipment is being rented; and workers are spending money in local shops and restaurants.  That is precisely what is needed to help turn our economy around.

Why are there so many people from outside the Santa Clarita Valley in COC classes? 

California community colleges operate under the law that as long as you are a California resident, you can attend any community college that has the programs you need at times you need them, that provides the convenience to fit your personal needs, and that is your own personal choice. So long as that is the law of the state, there will be students who reside outside of the Santa Clarita Valley who will decide to attend College of the Canyons.

I tried to register for my class during my scheduled priority time only to find that I was put on a waiting list.  That has never happened before.  What is going on?

This is a natural consequence that occurs when the demand for access to education exceeds the seats available. Economic changes have forced more and more people to turn to their community colleges for the classes and training they need and can afford.  Four-year college fees are rising at exponential rates and some students are turning away from them in favor of attending community college.  At the same time, reductions to College of the Canyons sections put increasing pressure on existing classes.  Once a class fills, we create “wait lists” in the event someone drops a class and a seat becomes available.  The practical reality is that the lower you are on a wait list the less likely it is you’ll ultimately get into that class. These trends are going to continue.

The college had 10,670 students on waitlists in Fall 2010. In the past, our waitlists contained up to 20 names.  We recently decreased the waitlist maximum from 20 to 10. Had the waitlist been constrained to 20 as had been done in the past, the number on the waitlists would have been 14,511.

 If College of the Canyons is experiencing a budget problem, why don’t you just raise the tuition fees, parking fees and all of the other fees?

College of the Canyons has no latitude to change enrollment fees.  The state legislature determines enrollment fees, which are the same at every community college in California. The funds generated from enrollment fees go to the state’s general fund; they do not stay with the college.  Once in the general fund, they could be used to pay for any other state-funded program.  The same is true of the other mandated fees that community college students pay. 

A proposal to increase enrollment fees from $26 per unit to $36 per beginning in Fall 2011 has been put forward, and the Legislature is expected to vote on it later this year.

The daily parking fee at College of the Canyons was increased from $1 to $2 starting August 3, 2009 – the increase is intended to fund a program that will encourage greater participation by COC students in using mass transit to and from both Valencia and Canyon Country campuses.

Why are community colleges being so severely affected by the state budget situation and not other state organizations?

While there is some room for argument here, it is reasonable to conclude that all state-funded organizations have been impacted heavily.

Will there be layoffs of full-time faculty and staff at College of the Canyons?

The Board of Trustees and the administration are not considering layoffs at this time.

Will any of the intercollegiate sports teams be discontinued in order to save money?

At this time, we will support intercollegiate sports as long as they are cost effective.  We will work with athletics, just as we do with all other areas of the college, to implement cost containment procedures and make the most of the funds we have.