LBCC faces budget crunch

Published in Long Beach City College's Viking newspaper in 2006.

LBCC may be forced to return about $4 million-$9 million to the state due to a declining enrollment status that's been plaguing the college for two years.
A memo released by the budget advisory committee states that the majority of funding is based on enrollment. The state requires the college to record at least 20,923 full-time equivalent students during the 2005-2006 academic year.
Stated in the memo is a current projection revealing the college may be short by 2,731 full-time equivalent students and should the college fail in achieving its base, the state chancellor's office will place the college in stabilization.
"The college has not been in stabilization in recent history," vice president of administrative services Eloy Oakley said. "There's a possibility of cutbacks in the number of sections offered, but that's unlikely as most of the loss in revenue will be absorbed by reducing staffing and other college operations. Also, we are not fully convinced that we will be in stabilization next year."
According to the memo, stabilization means that for one year, the college will not lose any base funding, but will not be eligible to receive any additional funding associated with growth and if the base is not met within the year, the college must return the difference to the state.
"I don't think there's enough advertisement," student Andrea Czapiewski said. "The school should advertise more at high schools, or even preschools where it can reach young teachers looking to further their education."