Nearly 100 sections of classes were cut from the Spring 2012 semester offerings at Pasadena Community College. The Associated Students of PCC (ASPCC) have scheduled a Town Hall to discuss the budget cuts on Monday, February 27, in the Creveling Lounge, CC Building.
College officials announced the cuts during the last week of the Winter 2011-12 session.
According to an article in the Pasadena City College Courier newspaper by Nick Zebrowski and Neil Protacio, the announcement has resulted in an uproar and caused some students to “feel like the PCC world was collapsing.â€
The decision was also made not to rehire 45 retirees, news reports say. Faculty Association President Roger Marheine reported that many of these retirees were past Academic Senate members and Risser Award winners.
“They are being replaced by cheaper adjuncts,†said Marheine, quoting College President Mark Rocha. According to an email to the Courier newspaper, Marheine wrote “It is an utter disgrace that Rocha should treat distinguished faculty so shabbily.”
Marheine announced at an AS Town Hall last week that the Faculty Association is considering a no confidence motion in Rocha due to his handling of the situation.
“Cutting classes should not happen,” Marheine said.
Many believe that school officials will have to eliminate more class sections in order to meet budget constraints if taxpayers do not approve Gov. Jerry Brown’s initiative in November.