As President of Santa Barbara City College, I am writing to respond to errors and misstatements that appeared in the recent Channels’ editorial (March 12, 2008).

The editorial expressed the opinion that current plans to install additional temporary buildings on the East Campus are to accommodate enrollment growth. This conclusion is incorrect. All temporary buildings currently being located on the Mesa campus are necessary for the relocation of classrooms, laboratories, and office/work areas resulting from the Drama/Music complex renovation beginning in the summer of 2008.

In addition, new buildings will be required as “swing space” when we begin the School of Media Arts facility construction in the summer of 2009.

The editorial also contends that SBCC is in an enrollment “growth mode.” This is not true.

The fact is that, overall, SBCC is in an enrollment maintenance status. Community colleges are funded by a formula that is primarily driven by local K-12 enrollments. Because of the cost of housing, our South Coast area is losing families, and local school enrollments are dropping. SBCC, as a result, barely gets above the annual 1% annual increase in enrollment funding.

The editorial contends that we are expanding enrollments on the Mesa campus. This is not true.

For the past few years, enrollment on the Mesa campus has held steady. Our efforts to serve the community and meet our enrollment cap have been successful because of increased course offerings through our Dual Enrollment Program, Professional Development Center, and on-line college – all of which do not impact student enrollment on the Mesa campus.

It is also important to note that enrollment on the Mesa campus will not expand because of conditions that the California Coastal Commission placed on the approval for the building of the School of Media Arts facility. The Commission’s actions made it abundantly clear that the college cannot construct any new buildings that would allow for more students on the Mesa campus.

Every clarification I have articulated above has been openly discussed at SBCC District Board meetings, forums and committees. The bottom line is the temporary buildings are not for growth. They are being brought in to allow us to proceed with critical renovation and restoration improvements to existing permanent buildings that are needed to continue to provide outstanding educational services to our students.