November Update from Dr. Arellano
November 2009
Dear Continuing Education Community,
First, let me thank everyone who took the time to attend the community forum on October 27 in order to express concerns and obtain accurate information about the issues that matter to us all. We are aware that rumors and misinformation have been circulating, and we hope that through open dialog our Continuing Education community will remain vibrant.
On Friday, Nov. 20, we will hold another community forum at the Wake Center's Thornton Auditorium, from 3:00 to 4:30 p.m. Dr. Serban and I will discuss the state fiscal crisis, the impact on SBCC, and what is being done to respond to challenges and find solutions. Once again Geoff Green, Executive Director for The Fund for Santa Barbara, will serve as moderator.
If you’d like to see the fact sheet that will be handed out at the Nov. 20 forum, which covers the state fiscal crisis and our response to that crisis in terms of operations, staffing, and plans for the future, click here.
During that same week of the October community forum Santa Barbara City College received a very positive report from the Accreditation visiting team. The report will be submitted to the Accreditation Commission for Community and Junior Colleges (ACCJC). While the report is preliminary, Santa Barbara City College received five recommendations and numerous commendations. One commendation is noteworthy since it involves the Continuing Education Division:
Standard II: Student Learning Programs and Services
3. The team commends the college for its continuing education division, for the scope and quality of its programs for older adults. The breadth of course offerings and extraordinary long term popularity of the program make it unique among community colleges.
As the fall term comes to a close, we are finalizing the winter term offerings and preparing the printed schedule of classes for distribution the first week in December. For the spring term, we will continue to explore options for achieving a balanced budget in the face of state funding reductions. Many of you have shared you would be willing to pay for classes that have been free in the past, so that is one area we are exploring further.
Fall is also the time of year when students enrolled in our many arts and crafts classes have the opportunity to show their work to the public. On Saturday, November 7, the Annual Arts & Crafts Fair took place on the front lawn of the Wake Center. Over 65 students were on hand to display and sell pieces they created in such classes as ceramics, jewelry making, glass arts, fiber arts, painting, drawing, and more. Thank you to all who supported and/or participated in this event.
