Challenging budget year
for Mission College

  AUGUST 2003  




 

Mission College faces difficult budget problems in the coming year, and its greatest challenge will be to continue to offer the full range of courses and services needed by students to meet their goals.

That assessment from President Adriana D. Barrera in meetings this summer with faculty and classified staff.

The state’s multi-billion-dollar deficit has forced many public agencies to retrench or reduce services, and Mission College is no exception.

Already, the college has reduced the number of section offerings by approximately 10 percent below last fall. Weeks before the start of this fall semester, dozens of classes already had filled to capacity.

"In the past, if we had a long waiting list for a class, we’d be able to open another section of the course," said Dr. Barrera. "The budget situation will not allow us to do that this year."

Meantime, a decision on whether to offer a winter session in early 2004 has not yet been made.

The state budget approved by the Legislature in July brought some relief, with funding for the Los Angeles Community College District at a level such that proposed layoffs and employee furloughs do not appear to be necessary at this time. However, Chancellor Mark Drummond has cautioned that these and other budget-reducing measures may have to be re-visited, if the financial outlook should change.