“Bad, worse, or really bad,” Christina Gold, Academic Senate President, said about the future of EC with the budget cuts proposed by Gov. Jerry Brown, and we agree.Once again students wait with bated breath to see where cuts will be made, when and if taxes will increase and just how it’s going to affect them. Brown has proposed a 6.8 percent budget reduction, causing a loss of roughly $400 million for community colleges. The possibilities of increased tuition, classes and limited enrollment are very real and students should worry.According to a recent article by the Daily Breeze, Jack Scott, California Community Colleges Chancellor said 350,000 students could be turned away next year if the budget proposal is approved. The best possible outcome for students would be an extension of the June Tax Package, which extends higher taxes, and a $10 per unit tuition increase. The worst possible outcome would be an outrageous tuition climb to $66 per unit. With the economy in shambles and the job market suffering, the best thing young people can do for themselves is to get an education.This will be less likely, however, if tuition nearly triples. Increasing the tuition for community colleges is only going to limit students’ access to education.It will be even worse if tuition does increase to $66 per unit. Community colleges should be as inexpensive and affordable as possible for people who want an education. Unfortunately, this is not the situation looking at Brown’s budget proposal. Students who are already attending EC will be negatively affected as well by an increase of students who can no longer afford to attend California State Universities.Those students will turn to EC as a more affordable alternative leaving classrooms impacted and registration a nightmare.We need a governor who understands the importance of eduction and the importance of our young people’s futures. If anything, more money should be going into eduction, not less. Society is built on the shoulders of the educated and capable but with budget cuts and tuition spikes the future is looking bleak.
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Editorial: Budget cuts affect more than just the campus
“Bad, worse, or really bad,” Christina Gold, Academic Senate President, said about the future of EC with the budget cuts proposed by Gov. Jerry Brown, and we agree.
Once again students wait with bated breath to see where cuts will be made, when and if taxes will increase and just how it’s going to affect them.
Brown has proposed a 6.8 percent budget reduction, causing a loss of roughly $400 million for community colleges.
The possibilities of increased tuition, classes and limited enrollment are very real and students should worry.
According to a recent article by the Daily Breeze, Jack Scott, California Community Colleges Chancellor said 350,000 students could be turned away next year if the budget proposal is approved.
The best possible outcome for students would be an extension of the June Tax Package, which extends higher taxes, and a $10 per unit tuition increase.
The worst possible outcome would be an outrageous tuition climb to $66 per unit.
With the economy in shambles and the job market suffering, the best thing young people can do for themselves is to get an education.
This will be less likely, however, if tuition nearly triples.
Increasing the tuition for community colleges is only going to limit students’ access to education.
It will be even worse if tuition does increase to $66 per unit.
Community colleges should be as inexpensive and affordable as possible for people who want an education.
Unfortunately, this is not the situation looking at Brown’s budget proposal.
Students who are already attending EC will be negatively affected as well by an increase of students who can no longer afford to attend California State Universities.
Those students will turn to EC as a more affordable alternative leaving classrooms impacted and registration a nightmare.
We need a governor who understands the importance of eduction and the importance of our young people’s futures.
If anything, more money should be going into eduction, not less. Society is built on the shoulders of the educated and capable but with budget cuts and tuition spikes the future is looking bleak.
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