Class cuts, fee hikes, furloughs plague schools

Similar stories:

• 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.

• APNewsBreak: Mich. gov. ties school cash to scores

  APNewsBreak: Mich. gov. ties school cash to scores

  Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder is tying lots of strings to the extra cash he's offering public schools, universities and communities in next year's budget.

• Editorial: Kids are the real losers as state faces revenue shortfall

  Editorial: Kids are the real losers as state faces revenue shortfall

  A 9 percent fee increase at California State University campuses triggered an angry protest last week, but CSU students are hardly the biggest losers in California’s continuing assault on public education.

  If anything, they are the lucky ones.

  To be clear, no one wants to see college fees raised once again. It’s especially tough on students from middle-class families who don’t qualify for government grants, but at the same time aren’t so wealthy that they can easily afford another 9 percent fee increase.

• Editorial: CSU presidents need a share of others’ sacrifice

  Editorial: CSU presidents need a share of others’ sacrifice

  It was a classic, let-them-eat-cake moment: California State University trustees last month agreed to pay San Diego State’s new president $400,000 per year — $100,000 more than the outgoing president earned. At the same meeting, they raised tuition an additional 12 percent.

  More than a month later, the backlash continues. There have been calls to cap the salaries of presidents of the state’s public universities, at least during times of economic adversity.

  One member of the CSU Board of Trustees floated another idea: Limit the amount that taxpayers contribute to a president’s salary, but allow nonprofit university foundations to supplement that amount.