No reductions planned for winter, spring classes

Fewer classes will be offered during the spring 2012 semester than in spring 2011, but this number will still be an increase from the number of classes offered in fall 2011.

 

In spite of anticipated state budget "trigger" cuts, at Citrus College "there will be no budget revisions," said Carol Horton, vice president of finance and administrative services. 

 

The California Legislature enacted its annual budget based on a $4 billion budget estimate during a time when the state was generating a higher rate of tax revenue than it was able to maintain, Horton said. 

 

"Maybe $650 million has been generated," Horton said. 

 

Legislators implemented a "trigger" cut system that would automatically cut funding from various departments depending on the tax revenue shortfall. 

 

According to the Legislative Analysts Office, this year's revenues are estimated to be below the budget assumptions by about $3.7 billion.  

 

Citrus' budget was planned anticipating that state budget cuts would be made mid-year, both Horton and Lee said.

 

"These cuts are here to stay," Horton said. 

 

 In spring 2012, Citrus will offer 1,015 class sections.

 

This is a 9 percent increase from the 924 sections offered during the fall semester.

 

"Traditionally fall is a larger semester," Horton said, but Citrus has "flip-flopped" the majority of the class sections offered from fall to spring. 

 

"We planned spring larger than fall," said Samuel Lee, dean of language arts and enrollment management.

 

In spring 2010, 917 class sections were offered, which was increased by 16 percent to 1,097 sections in spring 2011.

 

The spring 2012 class schedule will be decreased by 7.5 percent from last year.

 

The goal for spring 2012 will be 4,590 Full-Time Equivalent Students. 

 

FTES is a representation of a student who takes 15 units for two semesters, or completes 525 hours of class instruction in a year. 

 

The number of class hours the student body as a whole is enrolled in each semester are combined, then divided by 525 to determine how many FTES are attending Citrus in a given semester. 

 

The number of FTES has decreased by 3 percent from spring 2011, which had 4,770 FTES.

 

This was an increase of 8.5 percent from the 4,230 FTES in spring 2010. 

 

There will be 113 sections offered and 525 FTES during winter session 2012.

This is a 22 percent decrease from last winter's total of 146 sections and 659 FTES, but an increase from the 110 class sections offered and 495 FTES during winter 2010.

 

"Students have adapted well to the fewer number of classes available," said Walter Galvez, 21, vice president of the Associated Students of Citrus College. 

 

Registration for winter classes begins Dec. 1, and classes begin on Jan. 3. 

 

Spring registration for continuing students begins Jan. 14; new students can begin registering as soon as Jan. 18. 

 

Horton's advice to students is to "take all the classes you can get and make good decisions. Don't let outside activities interfere with your educational goals."