Santa Barbara City College
Paul Wellman (file)

Nearly 700 students, teachers, and community members responded to a Santa Barbara City College (SBCC) survey launched in July by President Anthony Beebe on his first day at work. The results are in and ​— ​while predictable in many respects and lacking proper scientific structure ​— ​have helped Beebe gain a greater understanding of the college’s strengths and weaknesses, both real and perceived.

As a Santa Barbara newcomer, Beebe wasn’t historically privy to SBCC housing and parking issues, both of which, he said, have since pinged more substantially on his community-relations radar. He has also paid particular attention to the mistaken perception that the college’s student body has been ever-expanding, when in fact enrollment overall has dropped since the Great Recession. “I got some good feedback,” he said.

As far as takeaways go, Beebe said the college “needs to do a better job in terms of communicating with the community.” In that respect, he’s working with Director of Communications Luz Reyes-Martin to expand outreach intentionally and more proactively through newsletters and social media, for example. Beebe added that the college is exploring more noncredit programs for the community; its current offerings include a range of fee-free classes, from its adult high school diploma program and English as a Second Language to international business and computer network engineering.

Login

Please note this login is to submit events or press releases. Use this page here to login for your Independent subscription

Not a member? Sign up here.