The rumors of budget crisis have loomed in the hallways since classes started last Monday.

Talk of raising tuition, eliminating programs and reducing funds to which both students faculty have grown accustomed to has been frequent in many falcons’ conversations.

The fact is that California is in what many are calling the worst budget crisis in the history of the state. Reductions are being made everywhere; higher education is no exception.

All three of the California sections of higher education, UC, CSU and CCC, are affected by the budget cuts.

But, as Community College Chancellor, Tom Nussbaum stated in a recent email update, “Community colleges appear to be slated for substantially disproportionate reductions, as compared with the other education segments.”

So, what exactly is going to be affected? Many will simply answer, “Prop 98.”

What this translates to for students is a reduction in money given to programs utilized on campus.

As designated by the state, some of these programs, and their reductions are: Partnership for Excellence ($32.5 million), EOPS ($10.4 million), DSPS ($9 million), CalWORKS ($3.8 million), Matriculation ($5.9 million) and Part-time Faculty Compensation ($6.2 million).

Also slated for reductions are: Telecommunications and Technology ($2.6 million), Economic Development ($4.4 million), Scheduled Maintenance ($3.4 million) and Instructional Equipment ($3.4 million.).

Not every campus will be affected in the same way.

College President John Grindel, explains that, for Cerritos, the most significant changes are likely to be seen in areas such as maintenance, instructional equipment, and adult hourly. (Reductions in adult hourly will affect the amount of services the college will be able to provide.)

But less overhead projectors and tighter hours for student services are the least of the problems to come.

Grindel worries about the prospect of turning more students away as a result of cuts.

He explains that in addition to the affected areas listed above, students are likely to see the most drastic change in the amount of courses and sections offered.

Grindel says, “We want to try to preserve the quality of services and academics that we offer.”

But the reality is that cuts will have to be made.

Less classes available mean less students acquiring an education.

“This is the whole big issue,” Grindel says, “If all the colleges have to cutback their sections, it becomes an accessibility issue.”

On the complete opposite side of this problem the college is also worried about the prospect of having less students as a result of an increase in tuition.

The rumor is true. Governor Grey Davis has proposed increasing tuition from $11 per unit to $24 per unit.

With tuition more than doubling, many students are upset.

Timothy Lucas, undecided, says, “That sucks but I guess if everyone it gets a fee waiver it doesn’t matter. But for those who don’t qualify, they’re going to be in a bind. That money is going to have to come out of their pockets.”

Worse still, Grindel explains that out of that $24, only a few dollars stay with the campus. The rest of the money goes directly to the state.

In its own defense, the state government is quick to point out on its web site that unpleasant as the tuition increases are, even at $24 per unit, the CCC is still the best value in the nation.

In addition, the state administration has made the decision to increase Cal Grant Funding to cover the increases to student fees at the UC and CSU. This doesn’t directly affect Cerritos students presently, but could prove beneficial for those who plan to transfer.