UC Santa Barbara Ventura Center Students Fight Closure

The University of California system has been on a steady decline in state funding since 1990, when California contributed $16,000 per student. That amount has now dropped to $7,300 per student.

According to Michael Brown, Acting Dean of UCSB Off Campus Studies, "The UC leaders allowed it to happen and the burden has been shifted to students by raising fees. The university is in bad shape and people don't know it. They don't know what a gem they're losing. The stories (of the students) testify what's at risk. I wish the media had been here to hear and feel (your) stories and turn things around."

Students, graduates, and a professor were on hand Thursday evening to voice their concerns and tell their personal stories. Michael Brown noted "that a university education does not benefit only the student. It raises the community, not just the individual. This mentality has been lost and we need to get it back."

With UCSB looking to make up a multi-million dollar shortage, cuts are happening everywhere. What's happening at Ventura Center is not a cut, but a fatal slash. $500,000 per year is all that's needed to keep the program running.

Discrimination against an entire category of students

This program, if closed, discriminates against non-traditional students who will find it impossible to continue their quest for a university degree. With UCSB looking for $45 million, $500,000 is barely a drop in the bucket. It's difficult to understand why a program that gives such value to the community is being discontinued. Since the program began, over 4,000 students have graduated from UCSB Ventura, adding value to the surrounding communities with their knowledge and expertise. Half a million per year is a relatively small investment compared to the amount the state might possibly need to spend on these students if they are unemployed with families to raise.

Students pressed Michael Brown for dates or deadlines, trying to find out how much time is left and hoping it will be enough to finish their degrees. The only straight answer given was that the lease on the building expires December 31, 2010 and Ventura Center would be without a facility. Mr. Brown said that he had the Associate Dean of Off Campus Studies, Howard Adamson, looking at alternative space in which to house the program, but in the next breath said that the university was trying to free up funds, not make new commitments for funds.

Not what students signed on for

Michael Brown commented that he came to hear the students and to be honest with them. In what seemed to be an attempt to sidestep the announcement of a closure date, Mr. Brown moved into a discussion of possibilities for the future, which included courses being taught by non-UC professors. He assured the students they would still be given UC credit. He realizes this is not what the students signed on for, but is looking at this option.

No new students were admitted for the Winter quarter and his goal is not to leave people "in the lurch" when the program closes. He repeated that he wants to honor what the students signed on for. In order to do that, the program will need to stay open at least two more years to allow students admitted this Fall to complete their degree requirements. There was no forthcoming commitment to keep the program running that long, which did not inspire confidence among the students gathered to hear the news firsthand.

Last UC campus of its kind

The Ventura Center is the last Off Campus Studies program in the UC system. It's been serving the needs of local students for 37 years and has seen other recessions and troubled times. In the 1990's, the Ventura Center was cited on the floor of the State Assembly as an example of how other UC's should model their Off Campus programs.

In a press release by UCSB on October 1, it was stated that the Santa Maria campus had recently been closed for financial reasons. While meeting with students on October 15, Michael Brown mentioned that the Santa Maria center had been closed because it failed to meet the accreditation standards of the Western Association of Schools & Colleges (WASC). It was not closed for financial reasons and all students who were enrolled completed their degree programs.

Students Unite to Fight

The students will be meeting at the Ventura Center, near the corner of Mills and Maple across from the Pacific View Mall every Thursday at 7pm to work on strategies to raise awareness for their plight. The public is welcome to attend. The public can also show support by joining Facebook: Save UCSB Ventura Center.

An endowment or joint sponsorship by businesses or individuals would mean the Ventura Center could stay open long enough for the students to earn their degrees. $500,000 is pocket change for corporations these days, but to about 200 people who use the Ventura Center, it's an amount requiring a miracle.