SBCC Enrollment Rises as State Budget Tanks

Despite state budget woes and a record high number of students enrolled at SBCC, relatively few class sections were cut for the spring semester.

“When we planned for spring semester, we decided we would go with the same number of sections as last spring, not knowing whether or not we’d be funded for the new students,” said Jack Friedlander, vice president of educational programs.

Enrollment has increased 9.1 percent since last spring, for a total of 17,996 students. Full-time students are up 11.6 percent to 7,213 students. Accordingly, SBCC added seven sections in math, English, and English as a second language classes, Friedlander said.

Friedlander explained that while the administration wanted to add sections of science classes as well, there were no resources with which to do so. “That’s one area that we weren’t able to respond to student demand,” he said.

A total of 32 sections were cut due to the enforcement of the minimum class size of 20 students, Friedlander said. He added that the implementation of course prerequisites and co-requisites was largely responsible for the low numbers in many of those sections. A majority were in modern language classes.

Friedlander also praised the SBCC faculty for adding students to their already full classes, which was done on a voluntary basis. He added that, given the current budget situation, students have been patient, while faculty and staff have kept their commitment to students.