SCE

I am sure that all of you have heard varying reports about the impact of the State’s budget crisis on community colleges. It seems that every day the news changes as our representatives in Sacramento try to meet the State’s fiscal obligations while maintaining necessary services for its citizens. As educators, we all certainly understand the critical role that education plays in the health of our economy. As SCE employees we have immediate knowledge of the fact that the acquisition of skills like speaking English or reading and writing at the high school level can have a profound impact on the prosperity of a student and his/her family.

However the State is facing a shortfall of many billions, a figure that seems to grow daily. All state agencies are feeling the impact and community colleges are no exception. The North Orange County Community College District is facing budget cuts in excess of $10 million and climbing. Some of the cuts are in instructional budgets, others in operational budgets. Categorical programs such as DSPS, Matriculation, and Basic Skills have been faced with potential cuts ranging between 16% and 60%. As a result of these cuts it is estimated that nearly 9000 students will be unable to continue their educations at NOCCCD. And, certainly, staff will feel the impact of the reductions as well.

SCE has been given the task of reducing extended day costs by 10% for 2009-2010. It is well understood that 10% is a starting point and that further reductions will be needed. As a result a process was developed to develop a thoughtful and inclusive review of all class offerings for the fall trimester with an emphasis on how we are going to address significant and long term budget cuts. All employee groups were invited to participate and the resulting recommendations were presented at a combined Provost’s Cabinet/Budget Committee meeting on June 17.

A variety of criteria were used in reviewing potential cuts in class offerings. Examples include:

• A history of low enrollment
• A history of long waiting lists
• Duplication at another site
• Inclusion as part of a certificate program
• Availability/suitability of facility
• Feasibility of offering the classes for tuition

Certainly it was emphasized that multiple criteria needed to be used in determining whether a course would continue to be offered, including the course’s relationship to the SCE Mission:
To promote student success by providing quality lifelong learning opportunities and services that anticipates and serves the diverse needs of individuals, business, and the community

I have also attached a copy of the Principles for Budget Reductions were adopted by Provost’s Cabinet on January 20, 2009. As you can see, these principles focus on keeping cuts as far away from people as possible. This is consistent with Chancellor Ned Doffoney’s direction in regard to budget reductions as well. As you may have read in his October 2008 memo to staff, “…our Board of Trustees is poised to lead our District through a quagmire of uncertainty with its abiding and uplifting philosophy of “People First.” That’s not just a saying. …The NOCCCD Board of Trustees is committed to maintaining instructional programs of the highest level for our communities. In order to do this, we intend to maintain faculty and staff members in the District as the first priority.”

The recommendations that were presented at the June 17 Provost’s Cabinet/Budget Committee meeting were approved and will be used to develop the fall class schedule. Savings of over $550,000 will be realized however we know that the process will need to be repeated for winter and spring. Unfortunately, one of the few givens in this whole situation is that the most extensive of the reductions will need to occur in 2010-2011.

I regret sharing such troubling news but I encourage you to contact your program manager/coordinator if you have any questions. These are, indeed, difficult times, however, I will do my best to share important updates as they become available. Few of us will remember the details of budget reductions but we will all remember how we worked together to make the best of a challenging time. That is the culture of SCE.
-Christine Terry

Principles for Budget Reductions
The School of Continuing Education is committed to using our mission and vision to guide all decision making processes in regard to budget reductions.
Mission
To promote student success by providing quality lifelong learning opportunities and services that anticipate and serve the diverse needs of individuals, business, and the community.

Vision

The School of Continuing Education is the first choice for lifelong learning. Our diverse population recognizes us for accessibility to quality programs and services. We are known for our focus on positive student outcomes in educational and career advancement, business development and training, and personal growth for all ages.

The following principles will guide decisions made in regard to budget priorities and are subject to revision as needed.

1. Make decisions with the potential to better programs on a permanent basis.
2. Consider the District philosophy of “focus on people”, making decisions with the least negative impact on students, faculty, and staff.
3. Evaluate all possible reductions; “business as usual” is a thing of the past.
4. Remember our responsibility for provision of instruction in the nine mandated areas.
5. Consider that there are multiple funding sources that support SCE that cannot, as a rule, be co-mingled.
6. Evaluate whether a function or activity should be eliminated or whether it can be offered in a more effective or efficient fashion. What does it contribute to the culture of SCE?
7. Remember that grant funds must be used to reach specified goals and, often, activities geared to reach those goals cannot be suspended.
8. Consider the role of SCE as the District’s ambassador to the community and the importance of a balance of programs and services.
9. Evaluate the feasibility of student (lab, tuition) fees, as permissible.
10. To the extent possible, share resources between programs, sites, and campuses.
11. Focus on revenue generating opportunities to offset the impact of state reductions.
12. Concentrate on measures that have the potential to stimulate the local economy.
13. Decisions should be based on data whenever possible with the understanding that other, non-quantifiable, factors may be considered as well.