Southwestern sends letters of concern to area legislators in response to proposed budget

Southwestern Oregon Community College is launching a letter-writing campaign to the state legislature in response to the funding level for Oregon community colleges included in the recently proposed state budget presented by the Joint Ways and Means Committee co-chairs.

The Joint Ways and Means co-chairs’ proposed budget calls for $458 million for community college funding statewide, well short of the $529 million recommended by the Oregon Community College Association and includes cuts to the highly successful Pathways initiative that allows Southwestern to articulate programs and student coursework with our area high schools. That budget also limits debt service on capital construction projects to $6.2 million – cut from $7.5 million.

The scenario recommended by the co-chairs’ budget would require Southwestern to cut $1 million from its budget for each of the next two years. The College would be forced to cut key programs and would not be able to pursue new growth or the very programs planned to respond to new industries – including project management, metals, construction and information technology – to meet South Coast employment growth needs. Lowering the debt service on capital construction means Southwestern would be unable to build the infrastructure necessary to grow health science technology programs to meet burgeoning needs and economic growth.

Southwestern faculty and staff members, as well as students, will be calling, e-mailing and writing our local representatives and senators over the next few days asking the legislature to improve this community college funding scenario.

“The co-chairs stated that funding the Shared Responsibility financial aid model ensures that anyone who wants to go to college will get to,” Southwestern President Dr. Judith Hansen said. “If there are not enough classes and no place to attend because of limited courses due to reduced funding and limited classrooms due to limited capital investment that is an empty promise.”

Press Release Date: March 22 , 2007