Volume 142, Issue #3
.
News
BY
JOSE GUTIERREZ
Staff Writer
City College is on its way to spending $7 to $12 million to improve accessibility to over 3,000 students with disabilities on all of its campuses as a result of a lawsuit settled last spring.
The college has been in the process of improving accessibility since the May 1, which was the effective date of the stipulated judgment. So far they have paid for architectural designs and have been training faculty to review procedures for the Disabled Students Program and Services.
Peter Goldstein, vice chancellor of finance and administration, said the college also had to pay a large sum to attorneys.
“It’s very sad that the college had to pay $1.7 million in attorney fees to address a situation that we would have voluntarily resolved through serious discussion,” Goldstein said.
Virtually all buildings and parking on the Ocean campus will be affected somehow in an effort to improve accessibility. Changes will also be made to the Downtown, Evans and John Adams campuses. In addition, All forthcoming projects will feature accessible facilities.
“Most of City College is pretty accessible,” said disabled student Jason Kern. “They need to make sure there are ramps in buildings with stairs, and make sure all elevators are working.”
City College will also hire a full-time Americans with Disabilities Act Compliance Director. Some of the Director’s duties include receiving and responding to inquiries concerning physical access barriers from students with disabilities, and developing and implementing training programs for the faculty; right now the ADA Compliance Director's duties are split between three people.
“Were excited to have a full-time ADA Compliance Director,” said Kathleen Kerr-Schochet, Coordinator for Disabled Students Program Services. “They will deal with both facility and programmatic issues.”
e-mail: jgutierrez@theguardsman.com
CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS NEED CASH BY 2012
BY DESMOND MILLER
Staff Writer
LESLIE HICKS / GUARDSMAN |
A bill just passed in the state legislature that might bring $22 million in additional state funding to the college.
The bill, SB 361 — which was drafted in concert with City College — passed on Aug. 29 and authorizes a one-time expenditure of $9 million to $10 million for school maintenance and instructional equipment.
Renewable funding within the bill includes a cost-of-living allowance of 5.92 percent totaling $8 million in employee compensation and benefits, and $3 million to $4 million in non-credit course funding.
The bill is currently awaiting Gov. Schwarzenegger's signature, which City College’s administration anticipates soon.
“Based on our extended discussions on the bill this year . . . we have every reason to believe that the Governor will sign the bill sometime during September,” said Robert Turnage, the vice chancellor of college finance and facilities planning for the California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office.
About 40 percent of City College’s 106,000 students are enrolled in non-credit classes, the largest non-credit program in the state.
Unfortunately, non-credit courses only receive half the money from the state that credit classes receive, according to Chancellor Philip R. Day, Jr.; but the college pays the same rate to instructors, whether they teach credit or non-credit classes.
“We try to give everybody the same access to the same level of teaching, but we pay the price for that, and that price is equal pay for equal work,” he said.
If the Governor signs the bill, non-credit classes will attain 90 percent of the funding of credit classes over the next three years.
City College did not work on the legislation alone — other California community colleges and the State Chancellors Office played a part as well.
Chancellor Day said the administration also hired two lobbying and consulting firms to work on the campaign.
“It’s the best investment we ever made,” Chancellor Day said at a recent Planning and Budgeting Council meeting, referring to the $115,000 paid last year in consulting and lobbying fees to California Strategies & Communications, LLC of Sacramento and Barnes, Mosher, Whitehurst and Lauder of San Francisco.
Both firms were instrumental in designing and implementing strategies that ultimately resulted in the passage of the bill. The firms assisted City College officials develop and make their own presentation before legislators.
James Brulte of California Strategies, a former state senate minority leader, worked on the legislation.
“We were on contract with City College and gave the district strategic advice, messaging on how to get the non-credit portion raised,” Brulte said.
Some administrators are already anticipating what the money could bring.
Joanne Low, dean of the Chinatown/North Beach campus — a large provider of non-credit ESL classes — mused that it could bring smaller class sizes or the hiring of more support staff.
Dawn Saunders, Associated Students I.D. Representative, was glad the college might receive more funding.
“I think it’s really good that they got the money,” Saunders said.e-mail: dmiller@theguardsman.com
CREDIT FEES TO BE LOWERED BY $6
BY JOHN SERVATIUS
EDITOR
Community college students can breathe easier in spring of 2007 when the per-unit fee will be reduced, from $26 to $20.
The reduction is part of Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s 2006-2007 state budget, which includes $19.1 billion for higher education.
For full-time students with 15 units, this is a reduction from $390 per semester to $300.
The reduction maintains California’s lead as the most affordable community college system in the country. Tuition at both University of California and California State University campuses across the state will be frozen as well.
“There was no effect on the City College budget,” said Associate Vice Chancellor of Government Relations Leslie P. Smith.
In a speech before students returning to classes for the fall semester on Aug. 29 at CSU Long Beach, Gov. Schwarzenegger discussed his budget for higher education.
“By buying out proposed fee increases, we have made the dream of college more affordable for students and their families,” he said.
The current budget reflects a 7.6 percent increase, to $439.7 million, allocated to all community colleges. Highlights include added funding for non-credit programs, a rise in the cost of living allowance for employees, and additional funds to replace reduced student fees.
Another proposal designed to increase state funding for colleges and help keep unit fees from rising failed to qualify for the June ballot. If approved by voters, “Investing in the Promise” would have required more state money as the student population grew, as well as a two-thirds vote of the legislature before unit fees could be raised.
Students polled provided differing opinions over what the unit-fee drop will mean.
Julia Marie Waters, vice president of the Inter-Club Council and a student senator.
“I think it’s an election year stunt,” Waters said. “All this recent support for those program issues will disappear once the election is over.”
“I don’t really know anything about that,” said student Jeremiah Boehner, when the governor’s budget for higher education was explained.
This is his first semester as a full-time student. Previously he worked so much he had to drop all his classes; he did not qualify for grants or scholarships. Finally, Boehner’s grandparents came through with funding.
“I didn’t go to school for awhile because I couldn’t afford it. Now, I can,” Boehner said.
e-mail: jservatius@theguardsman.com
YEAR-OLD WI-FI NETWORK GROWING
BY
ELIZABETH SKOW
Staff Writer
City College’s free wireless Internet-access network has been up and running for over a year, and the service continues to expand.
Tim Ryan, network manager of City College's Information Technology Department, said his staff built the infrastructure for the new Wi-Fi network, which any City College student with a Wi-Fi card-equipped laptop can use to access the Internet, and that they maintain it with help from the library staff.
According to Ryan, no funds exist to hire more workers, and overtime work put in to maintain and upgrade the system is going unpaid.
“No one is getting extra money for doing this because it’s nobody’s job,” said Internet Systems Administration Supervisor J. R. Hall.
Ryan said the program still has funds from a 2001 grant, but not enough to hire more workers.
Despite the shortage of resources, the department has expanded their service. The Ocean campus now has a total of seven Wi-Fi “hot spots” — located indoors, in heavily-used areas — compared with five a year ago.
“From the start the goal has been to expand the system as much as possible,” Ryan said.
Ryan added that the most helpful thing is very specific feedback from users about their needs and problems.
“We don’t want to make decisions without feedback,” Ryan said. “What we’d really like to know is what we need to improve, and why.”
To sign up for this service, students can go to the reference desk in the Rosenberg Library or www.ccsf.edu/wlan on the Web.
e-mail:eskow@theguardsman.com
BY LARRY SIMPSON
Staff Writer
Vice Chancellor of Finance and Administration Peter Goldstein said that both sides of the house have passed State Bill 361 without any amendments. The bill would change how community colleges across the state are funded. The bill awaits Gov. Schwarzenegger’s signature by the end of the month. Goldstein also announced the adoption of City College’s new financial budget, which will be implemented by late September.
"I'd say the very minimum we should expect to get would be $4 million, but we are hoping for something better than that," Goldstein said, if the governor signs State Bill 361.
Board of Trustees President Dr. Natalie Berg led the approval of consent agenda with minimal discussions, and brought up the lowering of tuition. Chancellor Phillip Day, Jr. introduced Anthony Navarro, the President of the Associated Students, who said he hopes to take action on issues and assured the board that he and his associates will be ready to give "110 percent" to the Ocean campus.
e-mail: lsimpson@theguardsman.com
City College at Large
Call or e-mail Chris Albon with campus-wide news at: (415) 239-3446 or newseditor@theguardsman.com
Evans Campus
The fall fashion business workshops continue at the Evans campus with “Illustrator for the Apparel Designer.” This workshop is an introductory class and will be followed by a second workshop that begins Oct. 31. It is offered Tuesdays, Sept 12 to Oct. 17, from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. at the Evans campus. The cost is $150. Visit designstudio@ccsf.edu or call (415) 550-4428.
Fort Mason Campus
“Massage for Two,” a class for friends or partners, will be offered Tuesday nights, starting Sept. 26 to Oct.10, from 7 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. at the Fort Mason campus in Building C. Learn massage techniques in a friendly environment. Find out simple and effective ways to reduce stress in a friend or partner. Wear loose, comfortable clothing. The cost is $75 each, $150 per couple. Register online.
Downtown Campus
A songwriting workshop for all levels of ability will be offered Thursday nights, starting Sept. 28 to Oct. 26, at 6 p.m. at the Downtown campus. Learn brainstorming techniques, how and when to edit and how to best arrange your songs for commercial success. No instruments required. The cost is $115.
John Adams Campus
Learn basic self-defense techniques and “on the street” protection at a free ongoing class, Saturdays Sept. 16 to Nov. 4, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the John Adams campus auditorium. Instructor Janet Gee will teach how to use your voice and body in self-protection. Call (415) 239-3899 for pre-enrollment.
Short Cuts
Issue 1 Corrections
- In "Eater's Digest", Marvin Gaye's name was misspelled.
- The photo caption for "Industry Begs for New Auto Techs" misstated Ron Young's title. He is a tool room custodian.
Paid Internships
The Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities is looking for students who want to be paid for internships during the semester and the summer. If you are interested, attend their recruitment session on Monday Sept. 18, 10am in room 364 of Cloud Hall.