Community colleges throughout California are cancelling their summer-school programs because of budget cuts.
Summer school has traditionally provided an outlet for students to help speed progress toward a degree or to transfer-or, for many, just to keep on track. But this year's budget reductions are forcing many public colleges to shift priorities, and many have chosen to slash summer classes to preserve more fall and spring programs.
In the 23-campus California State University system, summer enrollment fell from 75,000 in 2009 to about 12,000 in 2010. The number increased to about 20,000 last year only because campuses on the year-round quarter system offered more courses.
That number, however, is not expected to rise because most Cal State campuses now require students to foot the entire bill for the classes, rather than using state funds to subsidize a portion on the costs as they do during the regular academic year.
The University of California has been less affected because it used state funds to increase summer enrollment in previous years. Community colleges, on the other hand, have been hit especially hard.
Overall, enrollment and course offerings are at their lowest level in 15 years.
The problem is more severe in the massive Los Angeles Community College District, where only one of the nine campuses, East Los Angeles College, is offering a full slate of courses.
Source: Los Angeles Times
