It is no news to anyone that California is teetering on the brink of a financial abyss. For months now, television reports and newspaper articles have been foreshadowing grim economic futures for the Golden State. Between budgets-that-came-too-late, farmlands without water, understaffed and overpopulated prisons, the state is doing all that it can to keep from hemorrhaging money. From teachers to cops, all state employees are biting their nails in anxiety, bracing themselves for the worst. Everyone will feel the pinch, or rather vice-grip, of the much-dreaded budget cuts.
It hasn’t taken long for the financial deficit to trickle down to Fresno City College. In the midst of an ever-increasing enrollment rate, FCC has no choice but to scale back its budget. “We’ve been asked to take a 2.5% reduction in general funds,” says President of Fresno City College, Dr. Cynthia Azari, which equates to roughly 1.8 million dollars less. Dr. Azari also speculates that categorical programs could stand to lose even more, with 3.7 million dollars in potential cuts. Among the categorical programs unprotected from severe cuts are apprenticeships, career-technical education, matriculation (enrollment), part-time employee compensation, health insurance, and office hours. In addition to cuts, the cost of enrollment has be increased to twenty-six dollars per unit, effective this Fall semester. However, the FCC budget will not be finalized until September, thus, an exact amount of budget losses cannot be known until then. But one thing is for sure: students will definitely be seeing these cuts in very noticeable ways, and it won’t take long for students to notice them. In fact, it has already begun.
“We were hit hard,” says Ray Sanchez, Director of the Tutorial Center here at FFC, “Some [part-time] tutors had to have cut their hours from forty to around twelve hours.” In fact, many part-time student works on campus are expected to have their hours trimmed back. However, no lay-offs are predicted for any part-time or full-time employees. Lay-offs “aren’t even being contemplated,” assures Dean of Instruction, James Tucker. Although, this still translates to less availability of certain resources and services to students, such as the ever-useful tutorial center. Even though the tutorial center gladly accepts walk-ins, they are encourage students more than ever to make appointments beforehand.
One of the major on-campus student services having its hours scaled back will be the school library. Until further notice, the library will now be closed after noon on Fridays, and all-days on Saturdays. Although some students will be forced to study elsewhere, those particular times were chosen because they are typically the least busiest hours for the school library.
Another major impact of the new budget will be the lessened availability of counseling hours. Coupled with the mass influx of students due to declined acceptance to other colleges, this will guarantee longer wait times for assistance with class schedules and enrollment. As for financial aid, student can expect similarly lengthy waits for help and processing of rewards. Thankfully, the amount of rewards from financial aid will not be affected.
In lieu of longer lines and longer wait times, students are encouraged to, above all, be patient. Secondly, students are encourage to plan ahead and not to procrastinate. President Azari advises students, “Take advantage of programs ahead of time, and plan for crowds.”
If the school is asked to make sacrifices, then fittingly, so must the students. Now more than ever, student need to focus on school above all else. The recent scarcity of resources is far too big an issue to shrug-off. Use your time wisely, and be patient when it comes in the form of waiting. What is available now may not be available later. Money can be, and will be, restored, but time cannot.