Over the past four years, the state has substantially disinvested in higher education?in fact, higher education funding is at a 40-year low, tuition has soared to the highest level in state history, and students are grappling with increased competition for fewer courses as colleges and universities cut classes to deal with the more than $1billion in recent cumulative budget cuts.
To put a stop to Sacramento's debilitating cuts to higher education, on May 1, the heads of the University of California, California State University and California Community Colleges spent the day urging state lawmakers and the governor's office to make higher education a priority as they prepare to put together a new spending plan for 2012-13. Our legislators heard from students; business leaders; and college faculty, staff and administrators about the crippling effects that recent cuts have had not only on our higher education system, but also on the state's economic health and social well being.
It's no secret that higher education, especially California's community colleges, plays a substantial role in the state's economic recovery and growth. Simply put, dollars into higher education means dollars back to our local economy.
California community colleges offer programs that train students for careers as radiation protection technicians, biotechnology technicians and hybrid vehicle technicians. We train our region's nurses, accountants, police officers, teachers, firefighters and paramedics. Statewide, California's community colleges award more than 125,000 degrees and certificates a year and prepare 55 percent of California State University and 30 percent of University of California students for bachelor's degrees. But even more, we help local students start a career and support themselves and their families by earning a living wage.
Here in North County San Diego, higher student earnings and associated increases in property income from MiraCosta College graduates add about $7.9 million in tax revenue each year and push more than $74.1 million in income into the state economy. And when you look at all the cumulative benefits of having a college degree from MiraCosta College?higher student incomes and increased productivity as our graduates remain active in the regional workforce?combined with the ways in which MiraCosta College promotes regional economic growth through its own operations spending, the annual impact to our region totals more than $498 million.
If the once "Golden State" wants to emerge from this economic slump, retain local businesses that are key to growing our state economy and provide a future for our children, then it must restore funding to higher education. Governor Jerry Brown is promoting a tax on the November ballot. If voters reject his initiative, Governor Brown warns that the UC and CSU systems each would face another $200 million reduction. Community colleges would be cut another $298 million, forcing many to cut even more course offerings, lay off staff and take on additional borrowing. Even with Governor Brown's initiative, funding for higher education is still at a level that is unsustainable for future economic growth. That's why many community colleges are looking to their local communities for support.
To prepare students for the new jobs of the 21st century, MiraCosta College needs to expand our science, biotechnology, nursing and technical health-related careers and job training programs. This expansion will allow the college to accommodate more students in high-demand, popular classes that now have long waiting lists. The vision that fuels this plan is centered on the college's commitment to provide exceptional educational opportunities, sound leadership and prudent fiscal stewardship to the North San Diego County communities we are proud to serve.
In an era where public education is subject to repeated drastic and damaging budget cuts, we must seize any opportunity available to us to ensure access to high quality academic and training programs that prepare our students, active military, and returning veterans with an affordable education and the job training programs they need to prepare for 21st century jobs and careers. To fulfill this commitment, we recently commissioned a professionally conducted, independent community survey to hear directly from residents about their priorities for the college.
This survey found that MiraCosta Community College District voters strongly value the educational and job training opportunities that we provide to area residents. In fact, 64 percent of voters would support a potential local education funding measure to improve, repair and upgrade college facilities to increase the istrict's capacity to better prepare students for high quality jobs and transfer to universities, and bolster support services for student-veterans.
Over the coming months, we will continue to solicit input from our community members. Please join the conversation by taking an online survey at http://tinyurl.com/miracostasurvey, or log on to our website at www.miracosta.edu/ourplan to read more.
Should you have any questions, please contact Director of Marketing and Communications Cheryl Broom at 760-795-6612 or
[email protected].
To put a stop to Sacramento's debilitating cuts to higher education, on May 1, the heads of the University of California, California State University and California Community Colleges spent the day urging state lawmakers and the governor's office to make higher education a priority as they prepare to put together a new spending plan for 2012-13. Our legislators heard from students; business leaders; and college faculty, staff and administrators about the crippling effects that recent cuts have had not only on our higher education system, but also on the state's economic health and social well being.
It's no secret that higher education, especially California's community colleges, plays a substantial role in the state's economic recovery and growth. Simply put, dollars into higher education means dollars back to our local economy.
California community colleges offer programs that train students for careers as radiation protection technicians, biotechnology technicians and hybrid vehicle technicians. We train our region's nurses, accountants, police officers, teachers, firefighters and paramedics. Statewide, California's community colleges award more than 125,000 degrees and certificates a year and prepare 55 percent of California State University and 30 percent of University of California students for bachelor's degrees. But even more, we help local students start a career and support themselves and their families by earning a living wage.
Here in North County San Diego, higher student earnings and associated increases in property income from MiraCosta College graduates add about $7.9 million in tax revenue each year and push more than $74.1 million in income into the state economy. And when you look at all the cumulative benefits of having a college degree from MiraCosta College?higher student incomes and increased productivity as our graduates remain active in the regional workforce?combined with the ways in which MiraCosta College promotes regional economic growth through its own operations spending, the annual impact to our region totals more than $498 million.
If the once "Golden State" wants to emerge from this economic slump, retain local businesses that are key to growing our state economy and provide a future for our children, then it must restore funding to higher education. Governor Jerry Brown is promoting a tax on the November ballot. If voters reject his initiative, Governor Brown warns that the UC and CSU systems each would face another $200 million reduction. Community colleges would be cut another $298 million, forcing many to cut even more course offerings, lay off staff and take on additional borrowing. Even with Governor Brown's initiative, funding for higher education is still at a level that is unsustainable for future economic growth. That's why many community colleges are looking to their local communities for support.
To prepare students for the new jobs of the 21st century, MiraCosta College needs to expand our science, biotechnology, nursing and technical health-related careers and job training programs. This expansion will allow the college to accommodate more students in high-demand, popular classes that now have long waiting lists. The vision that fuels this plan is centered on the college's commitment to provide exceptional educational opportunities, sound leadership and prudent fiscal stewardship to the North San Diego County communities we are proud to serve.
In an era where public education is subject to repeated drastic and damaging budget cuts, we must seize any opportunity available to us to ensure access to high quality academic and training programs that prepare our students, active military, and returning veterans with an affordable education and the job training programs they need to prepare for 21st century jobs and careers. To fulfill this commitment, we recently commissioned a professionally conducted, independent community survey to hear directly from residents about their priorities for the college.
This survey found that MiraCosta Community College District voters strongly value the educational and job training opportunities that we provide to area residents. In fact, 64 percent of voters would support a potential local education funding measure to improve, repair and upgrade college facilities to increase the istrict's capacity to better prepare students for high quality jobs and transfer to universities, and bolster support services for student-veterans.
Over the coming months, we will continue to solicit input from our community members. Please join the conversation by taking an online survey at http://tinyurl.com/miracostasurvey, or log on to our website at www.miracosta.edu/ourplan to read more.
Should you have any questions, please contact Director of Marketing and Communications Cheryl Broom at 760-795-6612 or
[email protected].