College Board Slashes Programs, Jobs

By Mark McGuigan

Friday 16 -- The Santa Monica College Board of Trustees voted to scale back projected cuts, jettisoning six vocational programs and eliminating eight full-time teaching positions at an emergency meeting Thursday afternoon.

The cuts -- which are likely to save approximately $1.25 million -- come two months after the board initially indicated it would slash ten programs and 13 teaching jobs to help bridge an estimated $8 million budget shortfall.

Emotions ran high throughout the packed meeting at the Madison campus as the board heard from more than 75 speakers, including students, members of the community and faculty staff, some from departments not directly affected by the cuts.

“Sadly the board has to make some difficult choices because it represents not only the instructors and the staff, but the entire community,” said Trustee Chair Herb Roney, before the board voted 5-1 in favor of the reduction. Dr. Nancy Greenstein rejected the motion and Allison Sandera abstained from voting.

The decision to eliminate classes -- which will impact approximately 1,000 students at the college -- comes two days after Governor Gray Davis revised the California State budget, giving community colleges a $305-million boost over his January budget.

However Trustee Annette Shamey noted that the Governor’s suggestion was still “subject to the legislature” and claimed that “nothing is certain.”

At the same time she asked whether a proposed $7-per-credit rise in college fees would be retained by the college or “go back to Sacramento” to help bridge a historic $35 billion State budget shortfall.

“I haven’t seen any language that recommends that the money stay locally,” President Piedad Robertson responded.

The elimination of the six programs -- architecture, geographical information systems, public safety, tourism and hospitality, recreation and transport technology -- leaves more than 520 students with no full-time major.

“I want a better life for my kids,” said one student. “Keeping the programs open, these are the jobs that can give them a better life.”

The Board of Trustees said it hoped to retain some “choices” for these displaced students -- such as transfers to other colleges or summer classes -- that would allow them to finish as much of their selected programs as possible.

“If the programs close, students will be hurt. They won’t have a chance to complete certificates or AA degrees,” said Gordon Dossett of the English Department. “Imagine students who began classes this spring and autumn, they expected the programs to be around. After all they’ve been around for half a century.”

The programs spared by the board were respiratory therapy, fashion design, interior architectural design and office information systems, which will be merged with computer information systems.

Earlier this year the Academic Senate, which comprises faculty members elected from every department, proposed a number of alternative solutions to firing employees. One suggestion was to offer retirement incentives to employees over the age of 55.