Wednesday, May 09, 2007

So... would you take an accounting course from a college that cannot even balance it's own budget?

Register Guard--

Lane Community College plans on cutting staff and reducing courses to catch an $8.8 million hole in next year's budget.

The shortfall for next year has increased from an estimated $4.7 million to $8.8 million due to "escalating insurance costs" and the need to rebuild a depleted ending fund balance.
Make no mistake; we understand that there is a financial crisis hitting the college, and it is directly due to inadequate funding by the state," Bob Baldwin, financial coordinator in the head of the classified union said. "But we do think it is possible to find equitable ways of spreading the pain within the college."

In addition to freezing salaries under the proposed budget, other measures include improving productivity and efficiency by combining programs and reducing costs. Program cuts include 23 literature courses, 25 courses in art and applied design, and 13 courses and the Department of music theater and dance.

The state legislature’s final decision on the budget is not expected until late May or early June,

LCC in my opinion has totally forgotten who their customer is, the student, and perhaps it will take a little lesson in economics to remind them of the rule of supply and demand before things change.

as for the question in the title... my associates degrees cost me $40,000 by the time it's paid off when you include interest. Was it worth it? I don't think so.

6 comments:

Anonymous said...

Why is it that they want to cut classified staff again and no full time faculty are losing their jobs. Full time faculty in several department only teach 12 hours a week. If they are teaching 12 hours a week, what are they doing with the other 28 hours, and don't tell me it's all going to class prep. Most of the instructors take a long lunch and are gone around 2:30 or 3:00 pm. The classified staff are getting screwed in this budget. Faculty said they wouldn't fill some positions that went empty this year. If they were empty this year and they don't fill them next year, how are saving any money? Also, take notice that administration isn't laying off anybody from their ranks. Administrative employees make more than most classified workers but they are covering their own butts. No surprise there. They do some real flakey stuff with the budget, have been that way for years and will continue until there is a major change in administration. Most businesses would be bankrupt if they conducted business the way it's done at LCC.

JustaDog said...

First principle of politics: Always fire the people below you.

Upper level education staff are usually friends of politicians or union bosses, so you will never see their positions cut. Even though one of them might pay for 2 staff faculty. I just won't happen in the liberal world.

If I were in control there are many programs in the LCC curriculum that would be terminated - the first being all "English as a second language" classes!

Robin said...

personally, I think LCC would make a great shopping mall or a private resort.

Anonymous said...

ACTUALLY quite a few of the full time teachers have been cut to part time or asked to retire. I am considering NOT completing my degree because of the shake-up going on. Robin went through this and paid more than an arm, leg and ovary for a degree that serves no usefull prupose. And the person who is responsible for the big snafu that is costing people jobs at LCC, still has their job.
There are SOME incredible instructors at LCC and there are some shitty ones; it all depends on the program you are in. Enroll in a program that is self-sustaining like Airline Pilot, Nursing or Media Arts. Just avoid the 'bad Blood' and you will be OK.

Anonymous said...

Although blogs are wondeful, I think it is time for these issues to be in print, very LARGE print and in everyone's face. A lot of problems are because the public is not informed. Well, LET'S INFORM THEM! Who is with me?

Anonymous said...

What about bullying known as mobbing and gangstalking? There is information on wikipedia and through various search engines. There is state sponsored gangstalking and police sponsored gangstalking. There is "police who know" and "doctors who know".