California’s community colleges are the workhorse of higher education. Spread across 112 campuses, they are open to nearly anyone who walks in the door. You need not be a student council president, a legacy or even in the top 12 percent of your class. Just finish high school and pay a nominal fee to enroll. They dwarf the UC and Cal State systems in student enrollment (2.75 million to 750,000) and in community outreach. They not only prepare underclassmen for transfer but provide career technical training, workforce development, lifelong learning programs and English as a second language. That makes them a remarkable asset, but it doesn’t shield them from state budget cuts. The latest drop of the guillotine, announced last week, slashed $400 million from statewide funding.

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by Tom Barnidge, The Contra Costa Times.

Posted: August 31st, 2011, by: admin. Categories: . Awaiting Comments.