Cuesta College cancels almost all its summer school classes

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• Cuesta enrollment holds steady

  Cuesta enrollment holds steady

  Students are juggling more classes each semester at Cuesta College because of continual cuts to course offerings.

  The fall semester starts Monday with 50 fewer class sections and reduced staffing because of state budget cuts.

  Enrollment remains consistent with last year despite the fewer classes offered in various subjects.

• Editorial: South County facility for Cuesta has too high a cost

  Editorial: South County facility for Cuesta has too high a cost

  The Cuesta College Board of Trustees made a wise decision in hiring Gil Stork as the institution’s permanent president. He is a smart, proven leader who knows the college and community inside out.

  While we do not agree with every decision he made during his interim presidency, on most points we believe Stork is taking Cuesta in the right direction at one of the most challenging times in its history.

  We do, however, have continuing reservations about the administration’s strong emphasis on opening a South County Center, especially if it intends to ask voters to help foot the bill through a bond measure.

• California college students could get their B.A. degrees faster

  California college students could get their B.A. degrees faster

  A new program at California community colleges could put students on the fast track to earning a bachelor’s degree, while saving them — and the state — some money.

  A transfer-degree program started this semester gives community college students a simpler, quicker way to transfer to California State University schools.

  Community colleges have welcomed the program, which was borne out of a collaboration with the CSU and state lawmakers.

• Budget cuts could mean more layoffs at Cuesta College

  Budget cuts could mean more layoffs at Cuesta College

  Cuesta College officials are bracing themselves for the possibility of midyear state budget cuts that could leave the community college short about $500,000 to $750,000 in operational funding this year.

  Last week, State Controller John Chiang said tax revenue fell nearly $539 million below projections in July, pushing the state closer to triggering cuts that could affect education and social services.

  Midyear state budget cuts could trigger a hike in state community college student fees to $46 per unit from $36 per unit now. Already in May, Cuesta’s board of trustees approved a $2.9 million budget cut this year to deal with funding shortfalls. As a result, 43 nonteaching positions took an 8.3 percent cut to work hours and about 70 part-time faculty members had their class loads reduced or eliminated. In addition, five employees were laid off.

• 3 Cuesta president candidates talk accreditation

  3 Cuesta president candidates talk accreditation

  Restoring Cuesta College’s accreditation and securing needed funding in the face of dire state budget cuts dominated a discussion Tuesday among the three candidates vying for the top job at the campus.

  The three finalists for president/superintendent addressed a crowd of about 70 people at a public forum at the college’s San Luis Obispo campus.

  In recent years, Cuesta has struggled with turnover in key administrative positions, fought to retain its accreditation and been forced to make millions of dollars in cuts.