Protests spanned UCSB yesterday as supporters of the Ventura Center for off-campus studies rallied against the closure of the satellite campus.
A small group of students chanting, “Hell no, we won’t go!” marched through campus — storming into Davidson Library and the UCen with a megaphone and signs — in response to the center shutting down. Students who began taking classes at the Ventura Center this fall were originally promised two to two-and-half years to complete their bachelor’s degree, but according to Dean Michael Brown, the UCSB extension campus will need $500,000 in annual funding to stay open. This cost, UCSB’s administration said, can no longer be supported by the university’s treasury, which is already hard-pressed by a $45 million budget deficit.
“This is not easy for us or for me personally, because this is the last program operated by UC to provide world-class degree-earning opportunities to qualified working adults on a part time and evening basis, who are limited by time and distance from attending the main campus,” Brown said.
Proponents of the center argue that the $500,000 a year necessary to keep the center alive is negligible given the campus’ success educating thousands of students since its opening.
The Ventura satellite campus was opened in 1974 as the first off-site education program among all 10 UC campuses, according to a press release. Since then, the center has enabled 4,000 students to take classes there. Currently, the center consists of a six classroom complex near Highway 101 and has a student body of 65.
Debbie Pastor, a student at the Ventura Center, said she is among many who feel unacknowledged by UCSB’s administration for their concern over the center’s planned closure.
“Our ideas seem to be ignored,” Pastor said. “We are not given updates and feel no support.”
In the likely event that the center closes, Pastor said, university officials have a responsibility to ensure a smooth transition for those currently attending the Ventura campus.
Posted by nabelo
Wednesday, November 4, 2009 at 08:07 AM
I would have liked to have seen noted that the Ventura campus students pay the same fees and we are questioning the management of our contributions, as well as that of the certification extension program. Lack of planing on UCSB side should not create a crisis on our side! It has been acknowledged that with the reduction on state contributions, administrators realized to not have experience in getting funding through different means than the traditional ones. We are suggesting to appeal to the community that benefits from the center to help out, that is private donors, city and county. County and City budgets are separate. Also to keep pushing for lower rent, which now we are told would not make that much of a difference, however this mentality seems to get in the way of creative problem solving. PhD’s yes, they’ve got plenty, but thinking way too much inside the box. Yesterday it was also discussed for administrators to start showing up at the meetings we are holding regularly to brainstorm, diversify and getting support. Until yesterday this has been ignored, supposedly to have been unaware of the meetings, which lead to the discussion on increased communication, including with his own staff, they have knowledge on our activities, we tell them, that is communicating. How is it that with all the cuts, there has not been a cut in something that would benefit students, for example less general education requirements, seriously, I am all for a balanced education, but it is over the top, with all that I still know plenty of clueless individuals, classroom alone does not substitute for real life, or even the unbalanced amount of upper division in the desired major, less general education, instead maybe a little more major related classes. Cut the waste produced, ever wonder how come so much food gets thrown away? At the commons as well as at the stores, keep your eyes open, UCSB is a waste full campus, just many ignored it or don’t pay attention, this stuff does not fly in private industry. However, I am completely against privatization of education, since it is the mentallity of those used to jobs that excluded financial concern, cushy jobs really, there are hard workers on campus, but, sorry, they are not the majority! Increase your standards UCSB, you demand it from your students, a lot. All those math classes, language classes, history, government and art, geeees. Like you never had contact with that before???? Or will need it for your major. I get plenty of education by seeking it, NPR is my classroom outside the classroom, I am curious and that motivates me to learn. I attend at the Ventura center because I WANT to learn and get a degree. We show up for our classes, consistently, professors like coming to the center because they know we want to learn and are eager, we bring in life experiences too. Please support our cause, we have not been getting much support from the entities we are paying for through our tuition at the main campus (yes, we pay your MTD, climbing wall and arts and lectures—that’s ok, mon). AS was supposed to help and we are still waiting, what’s happening Charle? If there are going to be cuts: cut the buroucratic processes, does it not irritate you in how many procedures you are supposed to go through to register a student organization? That is waste! Often i wonder how many jobs on campus are artificial in the sense that their own procedures require staffing and this we pay for, not saying to fire people, just saying get serious about managing what funding you do have, get frugal, pay attention, observe, you’ll see the waste. This waste, I’m certain could help out many of the programs conducive to a good education and well being on campus. No one benefits from the thrown out food, the sea gulls maybe, but they don’t pay tuition, do they? But don’t listen to me, come see for yourself, join us on FB and get to know some of the students.
http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/group.php?gid=117449710097