With recent economic issues in the state of California, one instituion seems to be adding wood to the fire. Riverside City College, Moreno Valley campus has increased the enrollment fees, cut classes, and cut professors, placing a huge burden on students and members of the faculty.
State budgets and funding have taken a turn for the worst, which includes an 85 million dollar reduction in general fund resources and an additional 115 million dollar deferral. The state also voted on taking money from the Cal State system and putting it into the commnutiy colleges to help lower enrollment fees, consequently creating increased tuition at all Cal State schools.
Chris Leon, a third year student at RCC Moreno Valley, is one of the many students affected by these dramatic cuts. "Man, this whole thing has messed up everything, I was supposed to be out of here at the end of this semester, but I couldn't get the classes I needed. It's setting me back another semester or two," said Leon.
Students such as Chris are affected in their own personal ways, but each story sounds the same: not enough classes, too many students competing to get the classes that are available, and delays in completing academic requirements.
Although students might feel that the institution has turned on them, they are not alone. Many of the staff members are also feeling the weight on their shoulders with full classes, others cut, professors gone, and waitlisted students desperately trying to add.
RCC professor Mrs. Crep* said with a look of disgust on her face, "All of my classes have been really full this semester compared to those of the past. It's sad when I have a full class already and kids get on a waitlist hoping to add when there is simply no room. The students don't deserve that."
This particular professor may not have personally suffered from the loss of classes, but many of her colleagues have. "I've spoken with some of my old friends who used to teach here and their programs or classes just don't exist anymore. That's sad because these people were my friends and were apart of our team."
Perhaps the ones affected most by the cuts are the students. Crep adds, "Individual instruction is so vital for these students here on campus and when you eliminate professors and make other classrooms fill their capacity it's less one on one time, which I feel is important for the success of the students." Never in the history of this instituion has there been this many students enrolled with these fewest classes. The professor explains her frustration with the situation. She states, "I've been here for 9 years and I love my job, it's the best thing that ever happened to me, but I really just don't know how much more of this I can take here at RCC."
California as a whole is in an economic crisis; when you get into our school system and jeopardize the future of America it's not the smartest route to take. When students are held back by legalities for which they have no control over, it just says bad things about this nation's future, a search for a better tomorow, and this institution.
*name changed to protect identity
