SANTA ROSA -- Santa Rosa Junior College will be adding up to 500 new class sections in its 2013--2014 academic year, using new revenue from the voter-approved tax measure Proposition 30 to restore approximately 7 percent of courses cut in the past three years, said Mary Kay Rudolph, vice president of academic affairs.
Those new classes will first be made available in the summer semester. Planners focused specifically on adding classes in areas that are prerequisites for transfer to a four-year university or a technical education certificate, as well as college readiness courses. The majority of those courses will be in English, mathematics and science, according to the college.
"This is the first time in the last three-and-a-half years that we've actually been able to add classes," Ms. Rudolph said. "We've tried to focus on what the students really need."
Cuts to state funding for higher education forced the college to reduce its class sections by 25 percent over that period, Ms. Rudolph said. Had voters not approved Prop. 30 last November, the college was anticipating an additional $12 million--$15 million in cuts to its funding for the coming academic year, potentially requiring further concessions from employees and additional reductions to class offerings.
The college has focused its available resources on its core mission of student advancement in recent years. Yet an enduring strong demand for fee-based community education courses has also spurred planners to add new physical education, dance, art and other courses for the 2013-'14 year. Costs for those courses vary, depending on the price of facilities and materials.
"We're looking at how we can serve our community, not just our students," Ms. Rudolph said.
Priority registration for the summer semester begins April 29, and registration for the fall semester begins June 24.
The announcement follows the restoration of the college's long-running Doyle Scholarship program for the 2013--2014 academic year, available to upcoming high school graduates with a 3.0 or better grade point average. The deadline for applying is March 14.
Class schedules and registration information is available at santarosa.edu.
