Students at Long Beach City College might find it harder to transfer after the LBCC Board of Trustees unanimously agreed on a budget plan that will lay off 55 employees, as well as reduce 96 contracts in order to save $5.1 million.
Nearly 40 percent of LBCC’s classified staff will be affected by this decision made on Tuesday.
Along with recent tuition hikes, these staff layoffs could affect students’ ability to transfer to their desired schools, including Cal State Long Beach.
“It may well affect the number of LBCC students able to meet CSULB admissions requirements,” David Dowell, vice provost for planning and budget at CSULB, said via email.
The layoffs were made exclusively to classified staff, which includes custodians, maintenance workers, instructional aides and secretaries.
Only 12 of the layoffs included management, whereas the reduced contracts were shortened from 12 months to 10 or 11 months.
Many students and staff gathered in protest in response to the layoffs. Students are worried about how this might affect their graduation and ability transfer.
“Budget reductions in community colleges such as LBCC do impact the chances that students will get needed classes and transfer to CSULB,” Dowell said.
Because of similar cuts to the budget, students are finding it harder to transfer in the two years that is expected.
“I haven’t met a person that transferred in two years yet,” said Kevin Wong, sophomore accounting major at LBCC.