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October 2009 - Update: What is Happening in Sacramento? |
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By Dennis Frisch
At present, it is relatively quiet in Sacramento as many people, especially among the advocacy groups, are trying to understand how the budget reductions will be implemented. On September 16th, the Chancellor’s office sent out a memo detailing how college districts might find additional areas of funding flexibility in the categorical programs. It makes interesting reading given the serious reductions categorical programs face. Also, this memo indicated just how aggressively the CEOs and administrators are pursuing greater and greater degrees of flexibility. In case you are wondering about the italics, flexibility is the current word in Sacramento for greater administrative control over funding decisions and less influence and input from faculty.
Earlier during the summer, faculty advocacy groups had some success in pushing back some of the most damaging budget reductions proposals. Several proposals, including one from the LAO (Legislative Analysts Office) for an increase in fees to $40 per unit, and others from various sources outside of the community colleges for increases to as much as $60 per unit, were blocked. Faculty groups ultimately had to accept some fee increases, but fortunately, that was $6 per unit. This was problematic, however, because the legislature enacted this after many students had already paid the $20 per unit fee, and districts now had to try and collect the additional $6.
Another success during the summer was the defeat of a proposal to reduce funding for P.E. and recreational courses from credit to non-credit. This would have had serious consequences since some of the money that might not be needed for P.E. courses often helps support more costly programs in CTE areas. The faculty advocacy groups considered the defeat an important accomplishment.
SMCFA is a contract member of both the FACCC (Faculty Association of the California Community Colleges) and the CCCI (California Community College Independents). Currently, both groups are working with other faculty advocacy groups, such as the SSCCC (the Student Senate of the California Community Colleges), the CCC (Community College Council of CFT, California Federation of Teachers), the CCA (Community College Association of CTA, California Teachers Association), the Academic Senate of the California Community Colleges, and representatives of the Chancellor’s Office to understand and advise their members on how to deal with budget reductions that their colleges may be facing. There are discussions about the possibility of mid-year cuts and what faculty can do to influence how that might affect their college.
Accreditation is another issue which generated much discussion, often animated and emotional, within the faculty groups and in the Consultation Council (this is a body which advises the Chancellor on community college issues. Representatives from all major constituency groups, faculty, administrator, student services, classified staff, trustees, students, etc., sit on this council). At present, twenty-three California community colleges are on some form of warning or sanction. This situation is of serious concern to all the constituent groups in Consultation Council. The Consultation Council and the Chancellor have formed an Accreditation Task Group with a goal of having discussions with the ACCJC Commission and the Executive Director of the Commission to try to address some of the most egregious problems with the current way Accreditation Teams and the Commission operate and relate to each other. CFT and CTA have both made their concerns known to the Executive Director. At their Spring Conference, CCCI (SMCFA is a member) passed a resolution of no confidence in the Commission and the Executive Director. They have been unimpressed with the responses so far, which prompted the discussions at Consultation Council and the decision to create a Task Group. The faculty has three representatives on the Task Group: FACCC, CCA, and the Academic Senate of the California Community Colleges. This Task Group has done a quick survey to more clearly understand some of the problems districts have encountered. Using that information and much other information, the Task Group will seek meetings with both the Commission members and the Executive Director to try a resolve the problems. Everyone agrees accreditation is an important process, and that it needs to be carried out so that, as educators, we can continue to provide the highest levels of teaching and services to our students. The questions, criticisms, and concerns are prompted by the ways in which accreditation currently is being implemented in California Community Colleges. The FAB will do its best to keep SMC faculty abreast of the latest accreditation developments.
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