“The hearing went really well,” said Bruce Clemetsen, vice president of LBCC. “There was a strong message that came from presidents and boards of education from (Oregon) community colleges about the issues surrounding their colleges and communities if funding continues to go the way it is.”
There was representation from Community College Workforce Development Agency, small and large businesses of various industries, such as ATI, contributed to the hearing. A point was made of the importance community colleges play in developing the workforce.
“Some of the owners talked about how they got their start from community colleges and wouldn’t be where they are today without those resources.”
“Another group present was students of various walks of life, explaining how important it is to have access to education.”According to Clemetsen, summer tuition for 2011 is on track to be raised $7 per credit.
The increase in tuition is due to the decrease in state funding. Based on the anticipation for the budget for the next biennium to be below the needs of the college, tuition will have to be increased. Clemetsen expects the legislature to release the budget for the next biennium near the end of May.
“They have no easy task. They have to designate priorities of where the revenue will go.”
The current community college budget for this year stands at $417 million, with the estimated budget for the next biennium to be between $400 and $410 million. However, according to a calculation for the 17 community colleges in Oregon to fully function without reductions and raises in tuition, funding would need to reach $623 million. The actual goal community colleges hope to obtain from the state is $425 million.
“It isn’t enough to support students without reducing as many classes, services or increasing tuition as much.”
The rise in student tuition will contribute to 40 percent of the budget, but LBCC will have to make reductions to cover the other 60 percent of the gap. These cuts could result in employee wage concessions, eliminating positions, retirement reductions, classes and services.
Some of the previous eliminations made this year equaled in a loss of four faculty positions and a contract reduction for water waste. As a result of those eliminated faculty positions, an additional eight classified positions were removed.
When classes or subjects are cut, the goal is to eliminate what will have the least impact on students.
“We look at where are the high demand programs are, what will be the minimum impact on students.” However, cuts of any size are no easy task. “We pick the least worst of the worst. We are already very lean, everything is connected.”
“People have been very patient and understanding even though it hasn’t been painless … everyone’s doing the best they can.”
“We are in an unprecedented time.” When the economy slumped, community colleges felt the change. The 2010-11 school year marked the first time in LBCC’s history, there was a tuition increase in the middle of the year due to two 10 percent governor imposed reductions. Higher enrollment and fewer resources meant that LBCC became stretched to over capacity.
“We are offering the same amount of classes as last year, so we are not growing.”
According to Tim Babcock, student and member of the LBCC student body, the unemployment rate has led to higher college enrollment, a lack of housing and an increase in rent cost. Babcock spoke at the meeting about the issues of raising tuition.
“There are a lot of business leaders to market this area. Other businesses won’t come into our area unless they have a market to back.”
Babcock believes by bringing revenue into our communities and supporting our students – the upcoming leaders, inventors and engineers, we will turn Oregon around.
“It’s time to show America that the Willamette Valley, known for being a great area of research and development, is a great place to work.”
However, some believe there might be a light at the end of the tunnel for Oregon community colleges and Oregon’s current economic status, but it will have to come in the shape of marketing local resources.
“Communities will grow if we have people who can do the jobs the community needs and businesses will expand if they have workers to get the work done,” said Clemetsen.
“Our job is to get people done with their professional objectives and certificates with skills and knowledge they need to thrive and bring in more jobs … the community is successful because its people were successful.”
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