PVCC Puma Press: March 2003

According to Dr. W.L. "Hank" Mancini, Ph.D., President of the Faculty Association, the implications of the budget cutbacks will translate to a 1 percent decrease in funds for the 2003-2004 fiscal year.

This means that Paradise Valley Community College will lose $192,000 from its budget this year. This is a significant loss of funds for the campus. Mancini attributes the loss to the "state's shortfall" blaming the Arizona State Legislature for passing the cuts.

According to Mancini, there could be additional 1 percent losses for 2004-2005 and for 2005-2006. All told, the college could be looking at a total loss of $576,000 by the end of 2006.

Mancini says that the quality of education for the students will not suffer as a result of the cutbacks. However, some class times may become more restrictive and classes that do not meet enrollment criteria may "have to be" cut. The requirement for keeping a class open at the college in the past has been a minimum of 10-12 students per class.

Another program in jeopardy, according to Mancini, is the 49 percent program. This program was designed to bring back retired faculty at 49 percent of their former salary.

These program cuts and policy changes are what has been determined to date. There could be more in the future if the District and the college deem necessary.

Mancini says that the college "will do all to protect the academic direction of the campus" and that the college is "re-examining the entire operation, looking for more efficient ways of maintaining high quality education and learning."