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.".........

[redgolum]

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

[PLMerite]

187,000,000 / 90,000 = 2077

[Carry_Okie]

Sorry, dropped a digit in my head.

[Pearls Before Swine]

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

Is that a pre-law or a poly-sci course?

[Pearls Before Swine]

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

Is that a pre-law course or is it part of the poly-sci curriculum?

[Yollopoliuhqui]

Brick and mortar educational institutions are obsolete. Give a laptop as a baby shower gift and let the kid teach himself, he’ll end up smarter, more independent and braver.

[roadcat]

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

Part of the other 8 percent went to covering a gigantic parking lot with solar panels. Among other "Green" schemes.

[Traveler59]

We need jobs for those who can’t or won’t benefit from college.

I'll be the first to say my first introduction to the rigors of college was a failure, and it was my fault. But, I took stock of what was available to me at the time and joined the military. I learned a good trade, got supervisory and management experience, and was able to travel the world (hence the moniker). But if I had not been able to join the military, there were several Vo-Tech schools that were courting me. Being a tradesman is currently a very good option. The local Vo-Tech boasts a job placement rate of over 80% for its graduates.