Questions arise over efficiency of transfer plan

SAN FRANCISCO “”mdash; The University of California Board of
Regents discussed the merits of transfer education Thursday with
the knowledge that, this year, 3,200 UC eligible students will be
asked to attend community colleges before transferring to the
UC.

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s budget proposed cutting
current levels of enrollment at the UC by 10 percent in order to
deal with a $370 million cut to the UC.

Schwarzenegger’s plan suggests a dual admission system for
students who cannot be admitted to a UC because of budget
constraints: They would be admitted to a UC campus but would be
asked to attend a community college ““ free of charge ““
for their first two years.

The governor’s administration plans to save money by
shifting students to community colleges because, although the state
pays $14,300 per year for each UC student, it pays about $4,100 for
each student at a community college, said Steve Boilard, director
for the higher education section of the Legislative Analyst’s
Office.

However, Martha Kanter, chancellor for Foothill-De Anza
Community College, said community colleges are underfunded.

“We cut the budget 10 percent last year. “¦ We turned
away 175,000 students last year statewide,” she said.

Kanter said community colleges can’t exclusively serve UC
students because they give a second chance to students who are not
UC eligible when they graduate high school.

Kanter illustrated her point with the story of Malcolm Harvey.
Harvey grew up in a Los Angeles neighborhood that was rife with
gang violence. He escaped by going into the Navy for 10 years. When
he was honorably discharged, he attended Foothill-De Anza Community
College. He received three Associate of Arts degrees and went to UC
Berkeley.

Studies show that generally transfers from community colleges
are just as successful as students who are admitted to the UC as
freshmen.

To smooth the transfer process, the state has set aside $1.6
million for counselors to assist students deferred from the UC to
transfer back to the campus at which they originally were
admitted.

But many regents are skeptical about whether the transfer plan
will work or how efficient it would be.

“I haven’t yet determined whether it will save any
money,” said UC President Robert Dynes, adding that although
community colleges are cheaper for the state, many students might
go elsewhere.

Dynes also said that students’ first two years at a UC are
an important part of their college experience.

“How much are those first two years worth, and how much do
you save? “¦ I haven’t determined that yet,” he
said.

Regent Barbara Bodine also voiced her concern that, because
transfer students often take one or two semesters to catch up, the
UC and the state might save money for one year rather than two.

Although many community college transfer students are well
prepared to enter a university ““ and Dynes pointed out that
several Nobel Prize winners have been community college graduates
““ there is often a stigma attached to attending a community
college rather than a four-year university.

Regent Tom Sayles also cautioned against making drastic changes
in the admissions process and instead counseled patience.

“We are in a business cycle. We have all been in the
business cycle before. “¦ Let’s not overreact and make
decisions that will effect us for a long time,” Sayles
said.

Regent Velma Montoya cited distinct advantages to community
colleges. She said she sometimes recommends them to family members
because they can be more “hands on,” and are less
expensive.

“Besides, you can find places to park on community college
campuses,” Montoya said.

For more on the regents meeting, visit the Daily Bruin Web
site.

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