Who Will Make the Decisions?

Over the past several years I have become increasingly concerned about the future of the community colleges and their commitment to the "Open Door Philosophy," "Student Centered Philosophy," "Teaching and Learning Philosophy," and "Community Based Philosophy." These have been the foundations upon which the community colleges have built their educational programs through the belief, dedication and cooperation of the faculty, the administration, the local board, and the community served by the college. For the most part the educational decisions have been made within this group with the underlying support of the state legislature and the governor. The colleges were given the autonomy to provide a diverse educational program of quality for the youth and adults of the community to be served. This provided an educational opportunity at minimal or no cost for all the people who were eligible to enroll regardless of their age, race, affluence, sex, or educational background. The community college was indeed a "people's college." Will this philosophy and service continue? We read in the Los Angeles Times that "Local Control of Classes Falls Under State Budget Ax," and that "In the Los Angeles Community College District, 118 classes will be dropped, affecting 7,000 students and 91 instructors." In the Association of Community College Trustees' Publication, President Robert N. Rue of C. S. Mott Community College in Flint, Michigan, states that "last January the college turned away 5,000 students, one-half again our total enrollment." The remainder of this essay could be devoted to examples of concern from community colleges throughout the United States. However, the two examples are illustrative of the seriousness of the problems facing the community colleges' educational programs. Of primary concern for this great American educational institution is the decision-making process. Who should make the decisions which will determine the future of the community colleges?