Over the last few years, students at College of the Sequoias in Visalia have been battling the effects of budget cuts. Fewer course offerings each semester means students are having a hard time getting into popular or required classes for their degrees.
"This is my third year here and I feel I could have gotten out in two years instead of staying another year," said Efrain Magallan, COS student.
As part of budget cutbacks, COS administrators eliminated its summer sessions in 2011 and 2012. Now, the passage of Proposition 30 has brought it back.
COS President Stan Carrizosa said, "It was the passage of Prop. 30 that brought us an opportunity to take some one-time resources called Restoration Funding and it's there to restore classes. So, we decided to put that into our summer session, one of the big things we know our area was missing."
The six-week, scaled back summer session will offer about 50 classes with courses like English, Science and other classes students need to transfer or get their degree.
Esli Sanchez is studying liberal arts. Last summer, she attended Porterville College just so she could get the courses she needed to finish her degree. Sanchez and other students are excited to hear COS' summer school is making a return.
"I was pretty happy because I won't have to go to another college for summer school," said Esli Sanchez.
Efrain Magallan said, "I think it's a big deal. I think it's good the college is working to meet the students' educational goals. I know when it was cut it was a huge deal and a lot of students felt the hit."
The shorter summer session will be modeled to run under tight resources -- $360,000 -- which is almost one-third of their usual summer school budget. Carrizosa said, "We believe the foundation will be sustainable because it's small and it's gradual and as resources come back we've laid the foundation to build upon it."
COS' summer session will run from June 10th to July 28th on the Visalia and Hanford campuses. Officials hope to offer summer school on the new Tulare campus in 2014. Students can check out the summer courses being offered starting on April 1st and can register in May.
