Question of the Month

Question of the Month

March 2003
Are layoff notices expected in your department this month? If so, what is the magnitude of expected layoffs?
Please e-mail responses to Communications Director Keri Goulart, kgoulart@faccc.org by March 14 (use the subject "March Question")
Your responses will be published here at www.faccc.org and may be published in other FACCC publications.

Mon 3/24/2003 2:32 PM, nbischof@merritt.edu (Norbert Bischof, Merritt College)
No layoffs in Peralta for 2003/04.

Sat 3/15/2003 7:33 AM, palmerpamela@hotmail.com (Pam Palmer, Palo Verde College)
The Vice President of Instruction, a counselor, and a first-year English full-timer were axed here. I don't know yet whether the union will fight for reinstatement of the counselor and English teacher. Our Distance Ed classes will be reduced this summer and I have no way of finding out how many part-timers may be affected.

Fri 3/14/2003 8:53 AM, bob_miller@wvmccd.cc.ca.us (Bob Miller, Mission College)
Yes! All non-tenured, non-instructional faculty. Many non-tenured instructional faculty for the district. 56 total for the district. The Board of Trustees voted last night to send out the notices for West Valley Mission Community College District. For the Mission College Counseling Department there will be pink slip notices sent to 8 of our 17 counselors. Two are from EOPS ([EOP's] only counselors), one from ACCESS, one from MESA and four general counselors. Of our seven remaining counselors, three are on 50 percent time (retirement phase in).

Wed 3/12/2003 12:30 PM, fostert@flc.losrios.edu (Ted Foster, Folsom Lake College)
The Los Rios Community College District is doing everything it possibly can to avoid layoffs. Our district's fiscal conservativeness has paid off as no lay offs are anticipated. The district has worked closely with the union to see that internal transfers of faculty and staff within the district make a best-as-can be-expected fit for all. Some administration positions have gone from a 225 day calendar to a 175 day calendar, and those affected are happy to still be employed.

Wed 3/12/2003 12:00 PM, howdouno@attbi.com (Eric Roth, Santa Monica College)
Unfortunately, Santa Monica College has adopted a cut, cut, and cut again approach. Ten departments were tentatively axed at the Board of Trustees meeting on Monday, effective in the fall. My program, non-credit ESL, also seems doomed. The 2,400 students and 30+ teachers are going to be pink-slipped for the fall.

Lifeboat ethics is replacing the values of shared sacrifice. Pay cuts are dismissed, proposals to increase fundraising ignored, and other cost-saving measures overlooked.

Wed 3/11/2003 6:04 PM, Michael_Herauf@westvalley.edu (Michael Herauf, West Valley Mission College)
We are still undergoing negotiations and are looking under every rock for resources. Nonetheless, five counseling positions, one EOPS counselor position, and one EOPS director position are slated to receive March 15th notification letters. An additional 24 FT faculty are also receiving notifications: various faculty in different departments, lab faculty specialists, assessment coordinator, librarians, and DSPS support faculty. As you know, all of the associate faculty in any area mentioned has to be eliminated in order to get to a full-timer. Our sister college, Mission College in Santa Clara, is experiencing the same number of layoff notices in mostly the same areas. Counseling and Student Services is getting a disproportionate share there, as well.

Wed 3/11/2003 6:00 PM, don_cordero@wvmccd.cc.ca.us (Don Cordero, Mission College)
If the board serves the notices, eight counselors will be let go. All are non-tenured, new faculty. That will leave 6.5 persons assigned to counseling.

Wed 3/11/2003 12:50 PM, nelsond@arc.losrios.edu (Del Nelson, American River College)
No layoff notices are expected here.

Wed 3/10/2003 5:07 PM, jparra@rh.cc.ca.us (John Parra, Rio Hondo Community College)
Board and president say no March 15 notices. Sounds too good to be true. Waiting for the other shoe to drop, but won't question a commitment to not lay off. One year at a time.

Wed 3/10/2003 2:35 PM, randy_castello@wvmccd.cc.ca.us (Randy Castello, West Valley Mission Community College District)
Not in my department. Accounting, however, they will reduce. They are sending a notice to a faculty member in General Business—they will have one
full-timer left who can teach five sections. (They'll have to cut over 20 sections.) What students will be left to take accounting??

Wed 3/10/2003 1:37 PM, hpreschler@avc.edu (Heidi Preschler, Antelope Valley College)
We are not anticipating any layoffs this spring. We do have a hiring freeze in place. We don't know yet what will happen next year but anticipate that there will probably have to be some layoffs if Davis' proposed cuts are implemented.

Wed 3/10/2003 1:37 PM, ehackett@collegeofthedesert.edu (Eileen Hackett, College of the Desert)
So far, there are no layoffs, but we know that it is just a matter of time.

Wed 3/10/2003 12:11 PM, smithjb@laccd.edu (June Smith, East Los Angeles College)
The administration is asking for voluntary transfers and retirements from the faculty. We have no staff in communications to lay off! We don't even have a secretary!!!!

Wed 3/10/2003 11:57 PM, amiller@vcccd.net (Alfred Miller, Moorpark College)
Our District has decided to send "notices of possible lay offs" in accordance with the March 15th deadline. I received my "notice of possible
lay off" on the 7th of March as did all full- and part-time faculty. Classes have been cut in my department, which will lead to a reduced or
eliminated load for all of us. Probably, the part-time faculty will be "punished" first.

Fri 3/7/2003 2:14 PM, ezequiel.cardenas@gcccd.net (Ezequiel Cárdenas,Cuyamaca College)
No. Not in our department or in our District. Grossmont-Cuyamaca Community College District will not send any March 15th notices.

Fri 3/7/2003 1:12 PM, jwconner@earthlink.net (Joe W. Conner, Pasadena City College)
No. Not in our department or in our District. Grossmont-Cuyamaca Community College District will not send any March 15th notices.

Fri 3/7/2003 11:40 AM, jheiner@gw5mail.clpccd.cc.ca.us (Jim Heiner, Las Positas College)
Chancellor Susan Cota has assured us that no layoff notices will be given in our district this year. However, some20 administrators who formerly had two-year contracts were only given one-year extentions. They are also investigating a" Golden Handshake."

Fri 3/7/2003 10:54 AM, goth@smccd.net (George Goth, Skyline College)
No layoffs are expected in my department (Science Math Technology at Skyline College).

Fri 3/7/2003 10:28 AM, kay@sbcc.edu (John Kay, Santa Barbara City College)
There will be no layoff notices in my department this month. Santa Barbara City College will not be sending layoff notices.

Fri 3/7/2003 10:16 AM, mayhewl@yosemite.cc.ca.us (Lew Mayhew, Yosemite Community College District)
The only faculty reduction for Modesto Junior College and Columbia College will be 1/2 of a FTF position in EOPS/DSPS at Columbia College.

Fri 3/7/2003 10:12 AM, mayhewl@yosemite.cc.ca.us (Lew Mayhew, Yosemite Community College)
For YCCD (Modesto Junior College & Columbia College) Yosemite Community College YCCD, MJC & Columbia, 311 full-time faculty (20 or so retirements coming), 513 adjunct faculty, about 15,000 FTES, enrollment about 20,000, annual budget about $105 million. Half of a full-time DSPS/EOPS position layoff. No other full-time faculty layoffs. About four management positions given notice and others not filled.

Some classified staff have have been given notice and more go out later. Some low enrollment sections were trimmed from spring semester resulting in some loss in adjunct faculty. Adjunct faculty will suffer the greatest losses as sections are trimmed for the fall. Reduced summer session will be offered. Adjunct faculty staffing will be reduced about 25 percent in the fall. Some voluntary instructor reassignments from low productivity areas to other areas. Ten counselors to teach 20 percent in other disciplines 150-200 sections for Fall (approximately 30 to 40 FTE). No cut in pay proposed but District proposal due soon - YFA Negotiating for 18th position in state (salaries). Have an exemption from FON because they were over 75/25. No increase in cost to faculty on medical benefits (Distirct has said informally it wants to negotiate on fringes to lower costs and decrease retiree medical coverage from age 70 to age 65).

Fri 3/7/2003 9:32 AM, swallech@lbcc.edu (S. Wallach, Long Beach City College)
There are no lay offs in sight at Long Beach City College among tentured faculty. I am worried for adjunct people.

Fri 3/7/2003 9:32 AM, stacksc@lavc.edu (Shannon Stack, Los Angeles Valley College)
No faculty March 15th notices are going out this spring, but next year will be the threat. This year all academic administrators are getting March 15th letters for three-week furloughs. Twenty-five to 30 letters will receive termination March 15th letters in LACCD.

Fri 3/7/2003 8:22 AM, gperkins@glendale.edu (Greg Perkins, Glendale Community College)
I am an EOPS Counselor at Glendale College. We are expecting to lose one counselor in our non-credit program and possibly most of the staff associated with our Americorp Ready to Read Program. We do not anticipate any lay offs of counselors in the credit program, but, unless the projected midyear cuts for EOPS are blunted or restored, and unless there change in the magnitude of the proposed cuts for 2003-2004, we will lose two crucial adjunct counselors ( and one full-time through retirement who will not be replaced ).

Fri 3/7/2003 8:16 AM, sstocking@sjdccd.cc.ca.us (Steve Stocking, San Joaquin Delta College)
No, but we have one or more who will retire and not be replaced for next year. Loss of sections to be covered by adjuncts." But we have difficulty getting adjuncts for day classes.

Fri 3/7/2003 8:08 AM, RKoerner@vcccd.net (Raeann Koerner, Ventura College)
All full-time faculty in the Ventura County Community College District will be given lay-off notices. Rationale: to give the board more time to decide which programs will be cut.

Fri 3/7/2003 7:33 AM, GarciaAJ@scc.losrios.edu (Albert Garcia, Sacramento City College)
We are not expecting layoff notices this month. We will be reducing class sections this coming summer and fall.

Thu 3/6/2003 8:10 PM, petit@smccd.net (Susan Petit, College of San Mateo)
No, the San Mateo County CC District is not laying off any full-time faculty at all.

Thu 3/6/2003 5:17 PM, raythel@ix.netcom.com (Thelma Epstein, De Anza College)
No full-time faculty at De Anza College are being laid off, however, special faculty at the Child Care Center (they are under a separate part of our contract) will receive March 15th notices due to the proposed deep cuts of the Child Care Program funding.

Thu 3/6/2003 5:14 PM, mludder@santarosa.edu (Michael Ludder, Santa Rosa College)
In my discipline, political science, there are about nine adjuncts. For the fall only five are scheduled to return and this is only the first cut! There are in the works the possibility of even more cuts for next fall and spring. I expect that of the 1,400 adjuncts at SRJC, at least 300 will lose their jobs and the rest will suffer reduced loads. The District is seeking a $3.9 million reduction in hourly assignment costs by the fall semester.

Full-time faculty are not affected yet by the reductions, nor are classified, but there is a defferral of any new hires.

Thu 3/6/2003 5:03 PM, ana_maria_de_barling@wvmccd.cc.ca.us (Ana Maria de Barling, West Valley College)
At West Valley College, we department chairs were asked to cut 25 percent of course offerings. We were also asked that if, after a 25 percent reduction of our course offerings, we still had courses left to be taught by part-time faculty, to not write the name of any professor as the teacher designated to teach the classes. Some of our departments have faculty that have been given pink slips—not part-time faculty, but faculty that have been recently hired, some since 2000. There seemed to be no rhyme nor reason as to who received pink slips. Only they know ( the administration).

Thu 3/6/2003 5:01 PM, jsteacher_tw@yahoo.com (Jackie Simon, Riverside Community College-Norco)
At Riverside Community College-Norco campus, I am one of three part-time speech communication instructors. There are two other instructors who are full-time. I don't think any of us will be receiving notices. I just received my summer school schedule.

Thu 3/6/2003 4:44 PM, mark.newton@sjeccd.cc.ca.us (Mark Newton, San Jose City College)
Our district came forward with nine counselors/EOP&S, and DSP counselors. The Trustees refused to vote for layoff. So, faculty are okay for one year.

Thu 3/6/2003 4:44 PM, lmyers@mendocino.cc.ca.us (Lynda Myers, Mendocino College)
No. Luckily at Mendocino College we are in reasonably good financial shape and expect no layoffs this year.

Thu 3/6/2003 4:43 PM, hanna@sbcc.edu (Karolyn Hanna, Santa Barbara Community College)
I'm in nursing, and "no" we are not expecting any layoffs. In fact, we have three vacant positions for which we are trying to hire!

Thu 3/6/2003 4:30 PM, quizzler2@scccd.org (Bryon Spicci, Reedley College)
None that I have heard of.

Thu 3/6/2003 4:21 PM, kbray@sierracollege.edu (Kevin Bray, Sierra College)
Nope....

Thu 3/6/2003 4:13 PM, scottk@arc.losrios.edu (Kim Scott, American River College)
No layoffs in our department; instead staff is subject to be syphoned off. The thinking behind this is that if the general fund dollars will be picking up salary and benefits of a faculty or staff person that is currently paid by categoricals, then that staff person should then be available to the general student population in providing services.

There is much afoot to decategorize categorical program staff under the guise of different approaches to spreading out resources.

The Los Rios district is basically absorbing full-time staff into vacancies where people have retired and in some cases into growth positions that would have normally gone out for advertisement, but now might be filled by having to shift personnel around.

Thu 3/6/2003 4:07 PM, mnelson@mpc.edu (Mary Nelson, Monterey Peninsula College)
Because we had to cancel courses taught by adjunct faculty that normally would have been offered, yes we had layoffs. Three in the Family and Consumer Science Department.

Thu 3/6/2003 4:07 PM, rjames@vcccd.net (Dick James, Ventura College)
The Ventura Community College District has done the following: Initially furloughed 39 classified employees for one month. SEIU approved 3.5 days furlough for all classified. The entire district full-time faculty of 418 will receive March 15th notices of lay-offs to allow for more time and alternatives concerning the final disposition of personnel and programs in this district.

Thu 3/6/2003 4:04 PM, sterkjl@lavc.edu (Jack Sterk, Los Angeles Valley College)
Not expected.

Thu 3/6/2003 3:59 PM, snowhit@crafton.sbccd.cc.ca.us (Mark Snowhite, Crafton Hills College)
Our district is not sending out mass notices to any group of employees, with the exception of faculty department heads, who will receive a cut in their contract from eleven months to ten (and I'm one of those unfortunates).

Thu 3/6/2003 3:59 PM, snowhit@crafton.sbccd.cc.ca.us (Mark Snowhite, Crafton Hills College)
Our district is not sending out mass notices to any group of employees, with the exception of faculty department heads, who will receive a cut in their contract from eleven months to ten (and I'm one of those unfortunates).

Thu 3/6/2003 3:58 PM, barfiea@scc.losrios.edu (Annette Barfield, Sacramento City College)
Not that I have heard. We are transfer people into other departments.

Thu 3/6/2003 3:58 PM, chaumondep@cos.edu (Chaumonde Porterfield-Pyatt, College of the Sequoias)
At College of the Sequoias in Visalia, our Board of Trustees has issued a forewarning to pink-slip 85 faculty—all 1,2,3 temporary tenure track. It
was published in the Fresno Bee-South Valley and the Visalia Times Delta. That was the first we learned of the situation. The Board of Trustees also has violated the Brown Act with these decisions. The union is hard at work to stop the meat cleaver approach.

The Board meeting on Monday, March 10 will tell us the true picture. It is anticipated to be a protest with signs, students, faculty, community and media involved. There is talk to start proceedings for recall of the Board of Trustees who made the decision of which instructor/department will be eliminated. Our campus newspaper (which is not a rubber stamp of pro campus information) and teacher of journalism would be eliminated in the process. Our board is made up of five members, and only three members were present to decide the "hit list!"

Thu 3/6/2003 3:53 PM, mconroy@napavalley.edu (Michael Conroy, Napa Valley College)
No layoff notices are expected.

Thu 3/6/2003 3:52 PM, rperkins@cerrocoso.edu (Ulrica Perkins, Cerro Coso College)
Several English professors are getting March 15th notices.

Thu 3/6/2003 3:50 PM, cgreyrav@sbccd.cc.ca.us (Cynthia Greyraven, San Bernardino Valley College)
No layoffs expected in our department this month.

Thu 3/6/2003 3:47 PM, wlytle@ShastaCollege.edu (Warren Lytle, Shasta College)
I haven't heard a word about any layoffs.

Thu 3/6/2003 3:41 PM, jstroh@swc.cc.ca.us (Joan Stroh, Southwestern College)
We are not expecting layoff notices for any full-time faculty. Four VP positions and two director positions were eliminated by our board last night. Faculty and classified are being asked to accept a two percent pay cut. Administrators have agreed to a 12-day unpaid furlough to be taken one day a month. The latter amounts to a 4.5 percent cut in pay. Other cuts are in the works.

Thu 3/6/2003 3:41 PM, moneal@cerrocoso.edu (Mary O'Neal, Cerro Coso College)
Kern Community College District proposed 25 full-time faculty March 15 notices, plus contract reductions of 11.4-18.6 percent for 55 more full-time faculty. This is across disciplines and for all three colleges (Bakersfield College, Cerro Coso College, Porterville College).

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