Improving Enrollment

By David W. Girard

Funding must adequately reflect the community colleges' needs and accomplishments.

California's Master Plan for Higher Education was hailed as the promise of access to public higher education for all California residents. It has, to date, not delivered on that promise. Its failure is due in great part to the lack of support for higher education in the State's budget process. Generally speaking, the community colleges in California are currently funded at $3,200.00 per full time equivalent student, which is $2,000.00 below the national average. If the community colleges are to fulfill their mission as defined in the Master Plan, then it will be necessary for their funding to adequately reflect their need and accomplishments. The community colleges will be expected to accommodate the increase in students simply because they have traditionally demonstrated the flexibility and willingness to develop programs and curriculum to meet the needs of all learners. It will be imperative for all of us to keep the pressure on our elected officials to carry the message to Sacramento and Washington DC to provide the financial resources necessary to meet those needs. It will also be the responsibility of the College District Board to pursue all avenues of local funding possible to build, repair, and reinforce the infrastructure required by the increases in enrollment.