Despite the Board of Trustees and Chancellor Roche’s statements that they want to grow our college, the Spring 2019 schedule was radically cut, in some departments over 25%. Before the Winter Break Chancellor Roche made a commitment to AFT 2121 that there would be no class cancellations during the break. However, on Friday, January 4th, he notified AFT 2121 that deans would confer with chairs on Monday, Jan 7th about potential cancellation of credit sections with enrollments below 10.
AFT called on the administration to keep the commitment not to cancel classes during the break. AFT also demanded that they follow through with the agreed upon process and do targeted outreach for low enrolled classes, work with counselors, community leaders, and industry contacts to grow enrollment, and authentically collaborate with chairs and affected faculty.
Meanwhile, on Monday, Jan 7th, Banner 9 Student Portal became unavailable, making it impossible for students to register, so the administration committed to not cutting any classes until students are able to register.
It is clear that we must be vigilant and hold the administration to the vision of growth, not cuts. We are working to track cancelled classes especially when;
- a given class has history of filling during the add-drop period
- enrolled students have no alternative for meeting graduation requirements;
- students report being prevented from enrolling due to significant barriers, such as Banner 9 error messages
- the cancellation was otherwise unwarranted
Steps we can take to push back:
AFT 2121 members have formed a Grow Our College Action Team to respond with immediate direct action in the event of cancellations:
- If your class is cancelled, immediately fill out this form one time for each lost class and contact your Precinct Rep.
- Help continue the work we started together last semester against the downsizing of our community college. Next discussions will be held at our AFT 2121 Flex Meeting on Friday, 1/11 from 2:30-4pm in Conlan 101, and again at our next Delegate Assembly on Tuesday, 1/29 from 3-5pm in MUB 238.
- RSVP to join the Grow our College Action Team.
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