UC Santa Barbara Off Campus Studies Program Terminated

While President Obama has been urging the nation to return to school for college degrees, legislators in California have been imposing budget cuts on the education system. Getting into a university has always been a bit tricky, but now there are fewer openings and higher fees. Those who are earning their degrees a course or two at a time, are now wondering if they'll be able to meet their goals of a college degree to optimize their job opportunities .

Associate Dean of UCSB Off Campus Studies, Howard Adamson, broke the news to the Ventura campus of UC Santa Barbara today, announcing that the Ventura Center would be closing. There is no definite date set for the closure, but Mr. Adamson is pressing for a firm answer to this question from senior administrators and expects to know an exact date within the next two weeks. He only learned of the decision to terminate the program on September 21, and wanted the students to hear it from him, rather than second hand from an outside source. He personally took on the onerous task in order to spare the new Acting Dean, Michael Brown, from making his first contact with the students a negative one.

More hardships for students already pushing their limits

Disappointed students were encouraged to ask questions and voice concerns over programs that are currently underway. Most of the students enrolled in the Off Campus Studies program are attempting to earn a degree while working and raising families. There are students with disabilities and students who are also enrolled at Ventura College. Each student is pushing their limits in terms of time and commitment in order to attain their degree. When the Ventura Center closes, these students will either need to drive to the main campus in Santa Barbara for their remaining course requirements or abandon their studies. For most, driving to Santa Barbara will be out of the question. The classes needed aren't offered at a time that's compatible with work and family schedules, not to mention the time and expense involved in commuting at least one hour each way.

Due to drastic reductions in state funding, classes for Winter and Spring quarters are overenrolled, and "we have students hanging from the rafters" this quarter in some upper division courses. Professors are doing all they can to accommodate students both on the main campus and at the Ventura Center, allowing more students into classes than would be acceptable if the times weren't so difficult. Budget cuts have caused main campus students to travel to Ventura for courses, but those enrolled in the Off Campus Studies program have been promised priority when it comes to registration. OCS students are also encouraged to take the maximum number of transferable units at Ventura College, which is 70, in order to take fewer courses at UCSB.

"What can we do to help?"

The first questions to be asked were about what students can do to support the continuation of the Off Campus Studies program. Mr. Adamson responded that it wasn't necessary to write to him, since he is already on the side of the students, but suggested students write to Senior Administrators, naming Henry Yang, UCSB Chancellor, and state legislators. Any California resident interested in keeping the Off Campus Studies program viable is encouraged to write or call on behalf of those students who are making sacrifices in their personal lives in order to earn a college degree.

Henry T. Yang
Chancellor, UCSB
UC Santa Barbara
Office of the Chancellor
5221 Cheadle Hall
Santa Barbara, CA 93106
Mail Code: 2030
Phone: (805) 893-2231
FAX: (805) 893-8717
Email: henry.yang@chancellor.ucsb.edu

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Reduced state funding forces Ventura Center closure

Although students may see a lot of money being spent on other programs, such as construction of new buildings, Mr. Adamson explained that the money used for these projects are tied to specific grants and those funds are not allowed to be used for education. The budget handed down to the UC campuses from the state has shrunk over the last few years, with this year's budget being reduced by 10%. Next year's budget cut is expected to be 20%. With the belt tightening and running out of notches, UCSB felt there was no choice but to close the OCS program and use the money allocated to OCS at the main campus.

Mr. Adamson, a lawyer, is on the side of the students and is working to keep the Ventura Center open as long as possible, possibly until December 2011, giving current students a chance to take as many classes as possible and finish up degrees that are in progress. He was openly sympathetic to the plight of the students gathered to hear the bad news and promises that top priority will be given to stretching the deadline for the Ventura Center closure, hoping to allow even those students enrolling for the first time this quarter, time to finish their degree requirements.

Promises to current OCS students

Reference was made to the Santa Maria Off Campus Studies program which was "wound down", rather than cut, allowing students to finish their degree programs. Mr. Adamson was hoping to use money that had previously been allocated to the Santa Maria program to add more classes to the Ventura Center curriculum, but there are only so many classes that a student can take, so adding a lot of extra classes isn't the answer to meeting the needs of those working on degrees. Students were given the promise that no extra requirements would be added to their program if they were unable to finish before the Ventura Center closes and are forced to finish their requirements at the main campus in Santa Barbara. Students enrolled in the OCS program are continuing to attend classes and putting their worries aside, waiting for the closure date to be announced in the next couple of weeks.