Cuesta students protest potential cuts to Emeritus program

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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.

• 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.

• New Tech High raising some doubts

  New Tech High raising some doubts

  Next fall, a new school is slated to open in the South County that would provide its students with college-level courses, internships, a digital portfolio of their work — and a drastically different way of learning than what is seen at most high schools today.

• 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.

• Cuesta College picks chief fundraiser

  Cuesta College picks chief fundraiser

  Shannon Hill has been named the executive director of the Cuesta College Foundation and Institutional Advancement.

  Hill, who has more than 12 years of nonprofit and educational leadership experience, will start Monday. The Cuesta board of trustees approved her three-year contract and $101,148 annual salary last week.

  She replaces interim executive director Barbara George, who has filled that post since September 2010 when former director June Stephens resigned from the job to take a similar job with Citrus College in Glendora.