Imperial Valley College is in deep trouble, and is on the cusp of drastic action. Unfortunately, every couple of months for more than five years now, as California has struggled with its worsening budget problems, we’ve found ourselves writing much that same thing and coming to much that same conclusion.
Reaching a peak of 7,400 full-time equivalent students in 2008, here in 2012 IVC is serving that same number of students it did in 2006 — 6,500. It’s staggering to think that the college is serving nearly 1,000 fewer students than it did at its peak levels, simply because it cannot afford to do more than that.
Starting in 2007, IVC has spent more than it has brought in to teach students, and if things go as they are, the college will be looking at dipping into its reserves to the tune of negative-$2 million.
This week the college will look at a restructuring plan that could very well involve eliminating one or more deans at the college, and it’s a double-edged sword for sure, as some of those additional dean positions were created to make sure IVC did not get into the trouble it did in recent years with accreditation.
IVC officials have said in past stories that there are now efforts geared toward making sure accreditation renewal is an ongoing process rather than something the college does every few years in preparation for a date. We agree that has been a good thought process as the college has overcome its accreditation probation, for lack of a better term.
On the other hand, the emphasis of the college has to be serving as many students as it can, and if that is possible by eliminating high-paid dean positions for the possibility of more students space and class offerings, that also is a positive.
IVC — like most community colleges in this state and country — has the task of providing a quality education to those without the means for a four-year university education, those returning to school after years, the unemployed, working parents with only nights to give. The list goes on and on.
Imperial County needs IVC, and frankly, any measures will be temporary until this state recovers. That could be a decade or more, maybe less, but it will happen. What happens next will be painful, but the elimination of at least one dean position and the consolidation of upper-level services is likely going to be the way to go. If that happens, we hope IVC keeps a close watch on its accreditation, because the store wasn’t being minded several years ago.
Drastic times call for drastic measure … again. Sadly, this probably won’t be the last time we write this either.
THE ISSUE:
IVC faces restructuring.
WE SAY:
Dean reductions likely and probably won’t be all that happens.
WHAT DO YOU SAY?
Send us your thoughts on this topic to www.ivpressonline.com/letterstotheeditor
Reaching a peak of 7,400 full-time equivalent students in 2008, here in 2012 IVC is serving that same number of students it did in 2006 — 6,500. It’s staggering to think that the college is serving nearly 1,000 fewer students than it did at its peak levels, simply because it cannot afford to do more than that.
Starting in 2007, IVC has spent more than it has brought in to teach students, and if things go as they are, the college will be looking at dipping into its reserves to the tune of negative-$2 million.
This week the college will look at a restructuring plan that could very well involve eliminating one or more deans at the college, and it’s a double-edged sword for sure, as some of those additional dean positions were created to make sure IVC did not get into the trouble it did in recent years with accreditation.
IVC officials have said in past stories that there are now efforts geared toward making sure accreditation renewal is an ongoing process rather than something the college does every few years in preparation for a date. We agree that has been a good thought process as the college has overcome its accreditation probation, for lack of a better term.
On the other hand, the emphasis of the college has to be serving as many students as it can, and if that is possible by eliminating high-paid dean positions for the possibility of more students space and class offerings, that also is a positive.
IVC — like most community colleges in this state and country — has the task of providing a quality education to those without the means for a four-year university education, those returning to school after years, the unemployed, working parents with only nights to give. The list goes on and on.
Imperial County needs IVC, and frankly, any measures will be temporary until this state recovers. That could be a decade or more, maybe less, but it will happen. What happens next will be painful, but the elimination of at least one dean position and the consolidation of upper-level services is likely going to be the way to go. If that happens, we hope IVC keeps a close watch on its accreditation, because the store wasn’t being minded several years ago.
Drastic times call for drastic measure … again. Sadly, this probably won’t be the last time we write this either.
THE ISSUE:
IVC faces restructuring.
WE SAY:
Dean reductions likely and probably won’t be all that happens.
WHAT DO YOU SAY?
Send us your thoughts on this topic to www.ivpressonline.com/letterstotheeditor
