Advertisement

Hope, sentiment mark Glendale Community College graduation

Glendale Community College's Rosenda Colmenares, from third right, and other graduates line up as they listen to the Chambers Singers Men perform during GCC's graduation ceremony in Glendale.
(Cheryl A. Guerrero / Staff Photographer)
Share

Hundreds of students at Glendale Community College graduated Friday, leaving behind a campus struggling to accommodate future generations while facing an uncertain future themselves.

In the face of a lackluster job market, many students are choosing to stay within the college sphere, transferring to four-year institutions. But even those campuses are starting to tighten the flow of incoming students as they deal with their own budget woes.

During the last 18 months, cost-cutting measures at Glendale Community College have included the reduction of summer session, the elimination of winter session, pay reductions for the management, faculty and classified employee bargaining units, and early-retirement incentives for faculty members.

If Gov. Jerry Brown’s tax measures fail in November balloting, Glendale officials have said the college stands to lose an additional $3 million.

Still, there was hope and sentiment at the ceremony. Even college President/Supt. Dawn Lindsay, who is leaving for the top post at a community college in Maryland, was able to share in the moment, handing her son his certificate at the graduation ceremony.

-- Jason Wells and Megan O’Neil, Times Community News

Twitter: @jasonbretwells @megankoneil

Advertisement