City College of San Francisco on brink of closure (92% of budget for salaries and benefits)

San Francisco Chronicle ^ | July 3, 2012 | Nanette Asimov

[Cincinatus' Wife]

The poorly run City College of San Francisco has eight months to prove it should stay in business, yet must "make preparations for closure," evaluators ordered Tuesday.

The stunning verdict by the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges could result in the closure of California's largest college and a fixture of higher education in one of the nation's wealthiest cities. It has 90,000 students.

Only accredited colleges can receive public funding under state law. But City College's failure to fix serious, long-standing problems of leadership and fiscal planning means that the accrediting commission could vote as early as next June to yank the school's all-important certification, said Barbara Beno, commission president.

....City College was warned in 2006 that it had eight major problems that could place its status in jeopardy. Now there are 14, all of which must be addressed by March 15 for the college to remain accredited. ........

In her letter, Beno summarized the findings of the 66-page report, citing "leadership weaknesses at all levels," "failure to react to ongoing reduced funding," and spending all but 8 percent of its budget on salaries and benefits. The Chronicle, which had obtained a copy of the report, wrote about the findings on Saturday.

Beno said Tuesday that the reduced funding at City College isn't the reason for its precarious position. Other colleges have also lost millions of dollars in state funding, she said. Yet only two of California's 112 community colleges - College of the Redwoods in Eureka and Cuesta College in San Luis Obispo - are, like City College, on the brink. "It's choices," Beno said. "Regardless of how much money they have, safeguards apparently weren't put in place. The situation is very grave.".........

[Uncle Chip]

spending all but 8 percent of its budget on salaries and benefits.

Unbelievable

[csvset]

Warned in 2006..
So they just now figured out that no progress has been made?
They can not help but feed at the trough. Obviously they will line their own pockets first.

[Doogle]

it’s for the bigger kids.......

[pingman]

That and apparently, courses in Advanced Douchebaggery 901 are not a clear-cut path to a prosperous future.

[Drango]

"City College is fully aware of the seriousness of the situation."

Apparently not. Warned in 2006, you've diddle away.

[Uncle Chip]

Yet only two of California's 112 community colleges - College of the Redwoods in Eureka and Cuesta College in San Luis Obispo - are, like City College, on the brink.

This community college system in California is government waste at its worst. I heard a retired administrator saying that they were the conduit for illegal immigration into the state. The schools knowingly and actively recruited from illegal alien population giving them a free ride just to fill the classrooms that otherwise would be mostly empty.

[ROCKLOBSTER]

92% of budget for salaries and benefits

That's exactly what budgets are...salaries and benefits. You don't think public institutions exist to serve the public do you?

[Popman]

-——and spending all but 8 percent of its budget on salaries and benefits. ——

Obviously the answer is to raise taxes / s

[kearnyirish2]

That is what the whole public school system in NJ is reduced to; finding illegal aliens to fill the seats. I’m sure we spend 92% of our school budgets on salaries/benefits as well; the buildings are crumbling, some books (thankfully) pre-date Obama’s election, and our Dem politicians still swear our public school system works.

It does...for their coffers.

[Homer_J_Simpson]

As a greedy California tax payer I feel I should man up and step forward to accept responsibility for this tragic situation. The legislature should save S.F.C.C. by raising the marginal income tax rate on all Golden State citizens who are actually employed. Due to the declining number in that category it will also be necessary to increase the California sales tax rate to 9%. Any remaining shortfall can be eliminated by adding a fee to all property tax assessments.

This process is sure to fix the problem.

[cranked]

And to think that the financial administration of this campus have degrees and still could not balance their check books.

Simply amazing how ‘educated’ people fail at math as it pertains to balancing the books...... =.=

[SgtHooper]

It’s the typical parasite / host scenario. When the host can no longer sustain the parasites, it dies. Only in this situation, the parasites simply latch on to Calpers to continue the feeding. I wish these parasites would lose all retirement with the collapse. Then, it’d be a different story.

[Carry_Okie]

Since then, she said, the college has approved a $187 million budget for 2012-13

With 90,000 students, that's $20,000 per year per student. I'd bet that two thirds of them are part-time remedial-ed customers.

[Traveler59]

Is this the beginning of the “Education Bubble” bursting? I sure hope so, because several thousand liberal minded professors out of work would find that the real world is vastly different than their small minded ‘faculty lounge world’. I'm sure the science and engineering professors wouldn't have a hard time getting a real job, but the “Early European Renaissance Literature” professors might have to learn a new phrase; “Do you want fries with that order?”

[Drango]

Wonder how many queer studies classes they have. Womyn studies? Peace studies?

[Navy Patriot]

Just as long as we can figure how to keep paying all the City College staff with full pay and benefits while they don't do any useful work. Then we are consistent with College past practice.

I know, let's raise taxes!

[PeterPrinciple]

Wonder how many queer studies classes they have. Womyn studies? Peace studies?

---

How did you know?

http://www.ccsf.edu/NEW/en/educational-programs/AcademicDepartments0.html

[Saltmeat]

Wonder how many hours each instructor spends in the classroom. My guess is fewer than 10 per week. Yet they are all being paid a handsome salary that allows them to live high on the hog in Frisco. This explains the 92% being spent on wages and benefits. What a waste.

[redgolum]

It is going to get very ugly. We need jobs for those who can’t or won’t benefit from college.