2008 Woodie Awards
Worry over student drop
Luis Orozco
Issue date: 4/16/07 Section: News
- Page 1 of 1
Declining enrollment numbers and a projected budget deficit of $2.1 million may lead to cutbacks across the campus.
On March 16, the San Mateo public library was abuzz with campus faculty discussing possible inexpensive solutions to combat the lower than expected student numbers.
Specifically, high school enrollments, people who attend CSM right out of high school, are on a continual decline.
"We've had a downward trend in enrollments over the last 20 years," said Michael Claire, president of CSM. "The question is what can we do between now and next August to encourage high school seniors to attend [the school]."
The college's goal is to develop a low-cost plan that can be immediately acted on.
Solutions involved reaching students through popular media such as TV, radio, and even MySpace.
The school also plans to update the college website to better reflect the interests of young students.
This news of the declining enrollment is compounded with the potential consequences of an estimated $2.1 million budget deficit; however, the school intends to make only $1 million worth of cutbacks.
At an Academic Senate meeting held on April 10, teachers talked about the impact the cuts may have on class selection.
"The senate's job is to protect the curriculum," said Jeremy Ball, president of the Academic Senate. Although budget constraints threaten to cut classes, the senate aims to ensure that quality is not compromised. "Our official position in times of budget crisis is, we wanna do what we can to minimize effects on the curriculum."
Budget shortfalls are not uncommon in the district.
Ball recounted a budget disaster in 2003 where teachers on winter break returned to drastic fund reductions. Funding dipped so low that some teachers in the surrounding districts received warning that they may not be hired next semester.
A few years ago CSM was in a different position altogether. Administrators and faculty decided to add 50 new sections to the school utilizing one-time funding from the state.
They hoped the added classes would attract more students and result in increased funding, said Ball. Unfortunately, enrollment did not increase. "We made a bet and we lost," he said.
The planned cutbacks may include the removal of these added classes, as student interest in them was less than expected.
"You have times where you have a lot of money coming in, and then you have times where you have to cinch in your belt. This is a time we have to cinch in our belt," said Ball.
On March 16, the San Mateo public library was abuzz with campus faculty discussing possible inexpensive solutions to combat the lower than expected student numbers.
Specifically, high school enrollments, people who attend CSM right out of high school, are on a continual decline.
"We've had a downward trend in enrollments over the last 20 years," said Michael Claire, president of CSM. "The question is what can we do between now and next August to encourage high school seniors to attend [the school]."
The college's goal is to develop a low-cost plan that can be immediately acted on.
Solutions involved reaching students through popular media such as TV, radio, and even MySpace.
The school also plans to update the college website to better reflect the interests of young students.
This news of the declining enrollment is compounded with the potential consequences of an estimated $2.1 million budget deficit; however, the school intends to make only $1 million worth of cutbacks.
At an Academic Senate meeting held on April 10, teachers talked about the impact the cuts may have on class selection.
"The senate's job is to protect the curriculum," said Jeremy Ball, president of the Academic Senate. Although budget constraints threaten to cut classes, the senate aims to ensure that quality is not compromised. "Our official position in times of budget crisis is, we wanna do what we can to minimize effects on the curriculum."
Budget shortfalls are not uncommon in the district.
Ball recounted a budget disaster in 2003 where teachers on winter break returned to drastic fund reductions. Funding dipped so low that some teachers in the surrounding districts received warning that they may not be hired next semester.
A few years ago CSM was in a different position altogether. Administrators and faculty decided to add 50 new sections to the school utilizing one-time funding from the state.
They hoped the added classes would attract more students and result in increased funding, said Ball. Unfortunately, enrollment did not increase. "We made a bet and we lost," he said.
The planned cutbacks may include the removal of these added classes, as student interest in them was less than expected.
"You have times where you have a lot of money coming in, and then you have times where you have to cinch in your belt. This is a time we have to cinch in our belt," said Ball.
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