The news site of Santa Barbara City College.

The Channels

The news site of Santa Barbara City College.

The Channels

The news site of Santa Barbara City College.

The Channels

Academic Senate debates equipment allowances

City College’s Academic Senate debated to little result over the adoption of a new system for distinguishing department allowances, at last Wednesday’s regular meeting in the Business Communications Building – Room 214.

The Senate debated whether or not to go with a redesigned process for replacing equipment.

Faculty members suggested that budgeting for things like computers and microscopes should be handled by a ranking system for each department within the college’s four divisions. The four divisions include: Business services, human resources, educational programs, and informational technology.

Currently, department chairs submit written requests for classroom supplies when they are needed. The new system requires department chairs to budget for regularly replaced equipment.

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This means that faculty must list specifically what supplies are needed so that there aren’t any surprise costs mid-semester.

Ignacio Alarcon, president of the Academic Senate said that new accreditation requirements push for more accountability with planning and budgeting.

“Before now, accreditation was not as stringent in this area.”

College accreditation is a formal recognition that a college or one of its programs meets certain standards and provides quality education.

But some members of the Senate feel there’s no need to rank by divisions.

“Planning and budgeting has nothing to do with ranking,” said Esther

Frankel, computer information systems department chair.

Dean Nevins, chair of the computer science department, explained that if City College uses their current budgeting system, there exists a good idea of where we stand in the end.

Nevins expressed worries that City College’s accreditation deadline is nearing, and that this is no time for switching to a new system.

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