Full coverage: California community colleges
FADING DREAMS
California community colleges
A series of Times’ stories has tracked the state’s two-year colleges buckling under the stress of funding cuts, increased demand and a weak record of student success.
Brown seeks to reshape California’s community colleges By Carla Rivera
The governor wants to limit the number of credits students can accumulate. He also proposes changing the funding formula to pay schools for students who complete courses.
New California community colleges head is taking things slow By Carla Rivera
Brice W. Harris, who took charge of the beleaguered California colleges Nov. 6, isn’t rushing in with a plan, saying, ‘There’s a real risk in charting a specific vision too soon.’
A system in crisis
Rural community colleges face distinct challenges
More community colleges embrace fund-raising, reconnect with alumni
More students commuting to multiple campuses
2011 Times Investigation: Billions to spend
How a $5.7 billion program to rebuild went astray
The political money behind the rebuilding
More community college news
- 1
Thousands of degree seekers are able to enroll in only one class at a time. Hopes of graduating or transferring wither as years pass.
- 2
Demand is up but funding is down for California’s community colleges. Many students are shut out of needed classes, making it harder to get their degrees or transfer.
- 3
Edward Yacuta felt rushed and nervous when he took a test to determine whether he was ready for college-level English classes at Long Beach City College.
- 4
California community colleges have shed more than 300,000 students since 2009 because the students cannot get into classes, and the toll is likely to grow unless the state reverses course and pumps more money into higher education.
- 5
Santa Monica College reversed course Friday, canceling a two-tier fee program that had sparked student protests, opposition from the state’s community colleges chancellor and national debate about the mission of public institutions.
- 6
Facing a state funding cut of up to 10%, California’s community colleges will enroll 400,000 fewer students next fall and slash thousands of classes to contend with budget shortfalls that threaten to reshape their mission, officials said Wednesday.
- 7
Seventy percent of students seeking degrees at California’s community colleges did not manage to attain them or transfer to four-year universities within six years, according to a new study that suggests that many two-year colleges are failing to prepare the state’s future workforce.
