The MJC West Campus library would close and be used as a learning resource center. Coach stipends would end, but competitive sports would continue.
The mass communications department would be shut down, ending majors in journalism, radio, film and TV. The arts, humanities and communication division would be broken up, with remaining majors moved under other deans.
Services for disabled and low-income students would be reduced, including help for blind students to find class materials. CalWORKs child care vouchers would end and the Wawona Child Development Center, for 1-year-olds to preschool age, would close, the e-mail says.
The Miwuk preschool used for child development classes would remain open, Loewenstein said.
These are the first cuts to programs and full-time faculty in three years of shrinking budgets for the college.
Loewenstein said the restructuring is needed to save programs that most benefit students and the community. He laid out about $4 million in savings as well as $4 million in cuts to hit the target figure.
"I think the statement pretty much sums up my thinking," the president said Monday. "Time to let others express themselves."
Yosemite Community College District trustees will take up the plan at their March 9 meeting.
Faculty members are asking that the meeting, set for Columbia, be moved to Modesto, said Yosemite Faculty Association President Jillian Daly. She said at least 120 e-mails were sent to trustees from her members as of Monday evening.
"I think we're trying to take all this in today. Faculty are struggling to meet the needs of their students," Daly said.
The union is urging faculty and students to wear black armbands and black ribbons "just as a symbol of grief" in the coming days, Daly said.
Students, too, were coming to grips with the announcements.
"There was the initial reaction — everybody blowing up and getting upset. … Over the weekend, we all just rationalized and realized we have to fight for this program," said film major Amanda Wiley, 20.
Media is shifting into digital, Internet-based applications, Loewenstein said of his recommendation to close mass communications, noting only a handful of students each year complete an Associate of Arts degree in journalism, TV or radio.
TV instructor Carol Lancaster Mingus said skills she teaches still will be needed.
"You still need to know how to set up a multicamera set and light it and edit the video. … He called us irrelevant." she said.
Lancaster Mingus said she is racing to help her students who are nearly finished with the major complete the last classes they need in what's left of this semester.
Architecture instructor Dennis Thorpe said closing his program would have a ripple effect.
"By eliminating engineering and architecture, it will severely reduce enrollment in upper level physics and calculus classes — which will further erode the ability of the school to educate and transfer students on to our four-year schools. It is very sad," Thorpe said.
This is the recent local news on the Modesto Junior College Cuts. So far Respiratory Care Program IS NOT on it. The President was said to have recommended keeping the program. But, now apparently it's up to the Board also. I will update this info when I know more. =) This isn't from my teacher Phil but via Modesto Bee and Phil's Clinical assistant Bonnie.
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