Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal proposed 3% cuts across the board except for community colleges. More cuts will be coming; Jindal's cuts got Lousiana halfway towards closing a $341million budget deficit. By law, the LA governor is only allowed to chop 3% off the budget without legislative approval.
Jindal understands what Kulongoski doesn't - CCs are vital during economic downturns if a state expects to retool its citizens for the eminent economic upswing.
The Obama administration comes to power in perilous times. To deal with the economic crisis, Obama has promised an economic stimulus package that could top $775 billion to boost the economy. How will community colleges benefit from that funding? More specifically, will CCs receive more or less than 4-year universities?
With three-quarters of a trillion dollars being doled out, CCs will certain get something in the stimulus. But CCs aren’t alone in demanding a slice of the economic stimulus package: banks, auto makers, roads and bridges, health care, K-12 education, etc. The question is, what support does Obama believe CCs deserve during the current economic downturn? And how much will CCs receive vis-à-vis 4-year universities?
The stimulus package will cast Obama’s higher-ed priorities into sharp relief. Because CCs and universities educate approximately the same number of students, an equal payout between CCs and universities would indicate no preference between the two.
However, during the economic downturn many voices in the press are calling for extra consideration for CCs: USA Today, Leader-Call, and Canada’s Burnaby Now. Their arguments revolve around the fact that unemployed workers are best served by retraining for new careers, and CCs are the best place for that training. I concur.
The CCPP is vague, at least in documents I’ve found. It proposes support for: (a) analysis of local industry needs (b) programs for “emerging industry and technical career demands” and (c) “rewards” for increasing degree attainment. All these are fine ideas, but much too vague to be of real value. Furthermore, on the President Elect’s website, he makes no mention of the Community College Partnership Program.
At any rate, we won’t have to wait long for our first indication of President Obama’s support for community colleges. His stimulus package will be waiting on his desk on day one.
Washington’s governor loves community colleges. Oregon’s doesn’t.
Across the country, state governors are proposing dismal budgets for the upcoming biennium. In the Pacific NW, OR Governor Ted Kulongoski and WA Governor Chris Gregoire made their proposals facing deficits of 10% (OR) and 17% (WA). Obviously, both guvs were forced to announce painful cuts in worthwhile programs. Their higher education budgets show that WA Gov. Gregoire values community colleges more than OR Guv Kulongoski.
Some background: State budget cuts are particularly painful to higher ed for two reasons. First, states must balance their budget every year – they can’t run a federal-style deficit. Second, in most states, certain programs are ‘protected’ by federal mandate or state constitution – programs like Medicare and K-12 education.
Excluding protected programs from cuts punishes unprotected programs… like higher ed. Ultimately, governors’ proposals must be approved (and altered) by state legislatures before they become law.
Facing cuts, Oregon’s Kulongoski spared university systems at the expense of community colleges. Washington’s Gregoire did the opposite. Kulongoski lavished Oregon’s universities with 9% increases while saddling Oregon’s CCs with 3% cuts. Oregon’s CCs are not pleased. In WA, Gregoire faced deeper cuts, but favored CCs over universities. CCs will suffer 6% cuts, but universities will grapple with 13% cuts. WA’s CCs are relieved, if not thrilled.
Gregoire’s approach makes more sense. She understands that CC role in retraining workers for tomorrow’s jobs. To be charitable, Kulongoski spared Oregon’s CCs from the much deeper cuts faced by criminal justice, health services, and transportation. But his higher ed priorities are clear, and misguided.
In a recent editorial, the valiant Globe editors singled out community colleges for criticism:
“college was a bust for almost two-thirds of Boston high school graduates in the class of 2000. Students attending two-year community colleges - the least-expensive option - fared the worst… with an abysmal 12 percent graduation rate… Roxbury Community College fell flat…Quincy College, a low-profile, two-year college on the South Shore, did comparatively well (but not good enough)… Bunker HillCommunity College… yielded a 14 percent graduation rate.”
The study should put an end to common claims by community college officials that their graduation rates don't reveal much because many of their students transfer to four-year colleges before earning associate degrees. In this study, a student merely needed to earn a diploma or certificate from any institution of higher education, not just the original college… Rationalizations are now off the table.”
Where to start with the criticism of this ill-informed, one-sided piece?
The Globe’s diatribe was misguided for three reasons
1. Boston Public (K-12) schools do a poor job of educating those students most likely to attend community colleges.
2. Massachusetts gives precious little support to education, and community colleges are particularly starved for funding.
3. Boston Public students struggle in all institutions of higher education, so it’s wrong to single out the community colleges.
1. Boston Public (K-12) schools do a poor job of educating those students most likely to attend Community colleges.
Despite the bold – and largely unsubstantiated - claim that, “Boston is one of the best, arguably the very best, large urban school district in the nation…”Boston city schools don't succeed at educating the below average students.According to the CLMS report, Boston’s 8th graders fared poorly on the National Assessment of Educational Progress math tests; only 29% of all students scored “sufficient” in Math, and only 12%. Only 20% of black and Latino students scored "sufficient" on the math test.
These “insufficient” students end up at Boston’s community colleges.According to the CLMS report, “61% of community college enrollees were required to take developmental courses compared to the national average of 42%.”Worse than the national average, by far.
In other words, Boston Public Schools don't successfully prepare 'lower tier' students for college success.When students arrive at community colleges unprepared to succeed, it’s no surprise that they fail.
2. Massachusetts gives precious little support to education, and community colleges are particularly starved for funding.
As stated in the CLMS report, “Massachusetts’ per capita state spending on public higher education is estimated at 46th among 50 states.” And spending is shrinking: “Massachusetts state funding for public higher education in 2008 was 13% lower than in 2002 [sic].”
Of course, community colleges receive smallest slice of that funding.According to the Massachusetts department of Higher Education, community college students receive 30 cents in state funding for every per dollar a UMass student receives.
Unwilling to fund public higher education, Massachusetts places the burden on community college students, “annual tuition and fees for fall 2008 at MA community colleges: $3,480 2007 national average $2,361.” (CLMS report) Massachusetts is also very stingy with need based aid.According to the National Association of State Student Grant and Aid Programs (NASSGAP), MA ranks 36th among states in grants given per full time student.
Money won’t solve all of Massachusetts’ educational problems, but the BayState would do well to invest in student success.
3. Boston Public Schools students struggle in all institutions of higher education, so it’s wrong to single out the community colleges.
The Globe singles out community colleges because 70% of Boston Public students dropped out after 7 years.But 4-year public college students dropped out at a 50% rate, despite much higher state funding.And at 4-year private schools, only 56% of students graduated in the same time period.
Boston Public Schools face grave challenges.Those challenges cannot be met if ill-informed pundits lay the blame solely on community colleges.
Intelligent people can disagree about which state is most corrupt:
Illinois' "Pay-for-play" Guv Rod Blagojevich?
Alaska's "they built if for me, but I didn't want it" Ted Stevens?
Louisiana's "cold, cold cash" William Jefferson?
But there's little debate about which state's CC network is most corrupt: Alabama. Way back in January 2008, the former chancellor AL's two-year college system pleaded guilty to 15 federal felony counts for bribery.
""Roy Johnson, a once-powerful lawmaker who served as chancellor of the Department of Postsecondary Education for four years until his dismissal in 2006, agreed to plead guilty to 15 felony counts. They involve six separate conspiracies to send business to companies that provided money, home furnishings and jobs for his two children and their spouses. In exchange, the companies made millions supplying the state's two-year schools with items including computer software and furniture. "Johnson used his position as chancellor to build a power pyramid on a foundation of corruption," said U.S. Attorney Alice Martin." Gladson Times
Johnson was just the first of several prominent Alabama CC presidents, state legislators, and private businessmen, all brought down in a spiral of corruption, 'double-dipping', contract fixing, and nepotism. Meanwhile, Alabama's two-year colleges have been paralyzed by the turmoil.
Community colleges got off easy in WA Governor Chris Gregoire’s 2009-11 budget proposal.If the governor's proposal is approved by legislature (a big if), CCs will face a 6% cut in state funding, which compares favorably to the 13% cuts imposed upon WA public universities and deeper cuts elsewhere in the state budget. Apparently, the guv deems CCs more vital to WA's struggling economy.
It certainly could have been worse.
Back in November, all public colleges and universities in WA were told to plan for 20% cuts. 20% cuts would have been draconian - college officials discussed closing programs, canceling summer classes, layoffs, furloughs, etc. By threatening 20% then pulling back, the governor was shrewd. She scared everybody silly with a 20% boogie man, then made 6% cuts seem like an xmas present; an excellent tactic for delivering bad news.
CC Presidents across the state breathed a sigh of relief.
"It could have been worse," Everett Community College President David Beyer said. MSNBC.
Columbia Basin College President Rich Cummins is breathing a cautious sigh of relief after comparing Gov. Chris Gregoire's proposed biennial budget to the drastic cuts he was asked to prepare for last month. "This is a much less severe scenario than we would have predicted," Cummins said of Gregoire's proposal to cut 6 percent of the funding for the state's community and technical college system. We are hopeful this budget will remain largely intact and be the one that gets passed in the spring," he said. "The college will have to make some pretty substantial cuts, but (less than) compared to the 20 percent scenario." Tri-City Herald
YVCC President, Dr. Linda Kaminski says she has been planning for the worst case scenario. "We were actually expecting a far greater cut and at 20%, it would have just devastated the college, and would have sent thousands of students away. So this is good news for us, it's still a cut and we will have to deal with it," Dr. Kaminski says. KIMA-TV
Conversely, WA universities were grumbling. UW President Mark Emmert was complainer in chief, and he intends to fight the proposal.
"And while it is clear that she attempted to spread the pain, it nevertheless is substantial for the University. The Governor has proposed a 13 percent cut in funding to the state's 4-year colleges and universities for the upcoming biennium. For the UW, this would mean a reduction of $116 million for the biennium...present our case that protecting the University's fiscal well-being is critical to the future of our state. We have a very strong case, and we will deliver it in Olympia as forcefully and aggressively as possible." Seattle P-I
Cuts are indeed painful, it it's clear that education got off easier than many other areas of the state budget. In choosing where to make cuts least deep, the governor chose wisely in sparing the community colleges.
Community colleges are countercyclical - their enrollment increases when economic times are tough. Furthermore, CCs provide the quick (3-, 6- & 36-month) training that out-of-work adults need to retool for tomorrow's economy. Universities make the same arguments, but Gov. Gregoire agrees with me that the CC case is stronger when times are tougher. Additionally, CCs have less fat to cut off their budgets than universities - particularly well-funded research universities like UW and WSU (sadly, that's less true at regional universities like EWU, Central, etc. They'll be in a tough spot.)
Now, the budget will progress through legislative machinations, and the 6% cut is by no means set in stone. However, for now, WA community colleges are breathing a sigh of relief.
American higher education is standing on a precipice. Across the country, our community colleges are facing drastic cuts in state funding. Community colleges must be nimble and wise so they can emerge strong and serve students well. This blog endeavors to support that effort.
After a cursory search of the blogosphere, I found precious few that dealt exclusively with issues effecting community colleges. What follows is my humble attempt to shine light on the largest sector of American education.
At this critical moment in American economic history, America needs technicians who do more than thinkers who ponder. This blog is for thinkers who understand the previous sentence.
I'm a mid-level educational bureaucrat in a medium large community college district in a medium-sized city in the PacNW. I'm a strong advocate for the benefits of public community college education.
The opinions expressed by on this blog are my own and don't necessarily represent the views of my employer.
