From:  ROBERTSON_PIEDAD  Sent:   Tue 3/11/2003 9:49 AM
 To:   DISTRICT

 Subject:   RE: Budget: Programs & Administrative Positions Discontinued

March 11, 2003

Dear College Community,
Last night, the SMC Board of Trustees made what was probably the most difficult decision it has ever had to make. It voted to discontinue 10 academic programs and 13 academic administrative positions, effective July 1.

Because of the state’s largest budget deficit in its history, community colleges have had to make painful cuts. About 80 percent of our budget is made up of salaries and benefits. To make the kinds of reductions necessary – an estimated $5 million for this fiscal year and $15 million for 2003-04 – we have had no choice but to reduce our staffing levels.
The discontinued programs are architecture, fashion design and merchandising, geographic information systems, interior architectural design, office information systems, public safety, recreation, respiratory therapy, tourism/hospitality, and transportation technology.
The Board’s action puts into motion a legal process that will not be completed until mid-May. During this interim period, the college administration will work with the SMC Faculty Association and Academic Senate on this issue to see whether some of the programs can be salvaged. In addition, the college will work with representatives of all constituency groups to address cost-saving measures.

Full-time faculty who are issued a notice of layoff are entitled to a hearing conducted by an administrative law judge. No full-time faculty layoff is complete until a recommendation is received by the administrative law judge and the Board of Trustees takes final action either accepting or rejecting the recommendation. The Board of Trustees must make its final decision by May 15.

In the case of academic administrators, most of them have “retreat” rights, which means they are reassigned to the classroom. Administrators who have either obtained tenure as a faculty member or have been employed by the college for at least two years (as of the end of the current fiscal year) have retreat rights to a faculty position consistent with their degree. Administrators who obtained tenure as an SMC faculty member return to the tenured position. Administrators who have not otherwise obtained tenure but have a minimum of two years of service as an administrator return to the faculty position as a first-year probationary employee.

This is a sad time for Santa Monica College and for the state of California. We will do our best to help ease our colleagues’ pain as they make the transition. As this budget reality becomes evident to all, we must renew our efforts to communicate to the State Legislature and Gov. Davis the importance of community colleges to the health and economy of California.

Piedad Robertson
Superintendent/President