myUsearch blog

Imagine that one day, the entire University of California shut down. That would be 262,845 students without a college to attend. That’s a quarter of a million students that no longer have the grasp of higher education within their reach. This number represents the amount of actual students that will be turned down by California community colleges. Last week, Scott Lay, C.E.O of Community College League of California, sent out a release stating that budget cuts may deny these students acceptance to a community college.

So who’s to blame? The fiscal status of our economy? The rising rate of unemployment? Possibly, but I couldn’t help but focus on the positive aspects of the release. California’s community colleges are seeing a huge jump in enrollments. Also, a poll released by the Public Policy Institute of California made note that “66% of Californians believe community colleges are doing an “excellent” or “good” job.” It’s a shame that individuals seeking a college education will be turned down by the state’s spending cuts and overall lack of funding.

More than 80% of the California public is “concerned that the state’s budget gap will cause significant spending cuts in higher education.” Half of them believe that “more funding is needed to provide “major improvements” to California’s higher education system.

It’s hard to know what will happen since the number of students applying to college is decreasing. Lay said that with an “equipped and knowledgeable workforce,” our economy can rise against this crisis by creating “quality jobs for our taxpayers.” But will this happen if we shut the doors to those seeking a college degree?

With 110 accredited colleges in California, 1.7 million students attend a community college. According to the Community College League of California, the impact of proposed cuts can add up to $332,200,000.

To read the entire pres release, click here.

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