Santa Barbara City College is in the midst of a great challenge — we’ve moved classes online effectively, our enrollment is growing, and our budget is worsening as the result of state’s deficit of $54 billion. Our faculty and staff have risen to these challenges, offering an entirely online summer schedule that is serving our community. Planning is underway regarding how best to serve our students in fall 2020. As always, our college will offer an excellent educational experience, student supports, and new opportunities.
SBCC began its Summer Session I on May 18 with a 19 percent increase in enrollment. Summer Session II, which will start on June 29, is currently up 16 percent. The growth in enrollment is not surprising since we have been getting indications, following the record unemployment situation and decisions by many four-year institutions to remain fully online, of increased student interest in the value of a community college education. Additionally, we know that SBCC is a great choice for our local high school students.
As COVID-19 began to take hold, SBCC took the lead among community colleges to move courses online early on in the response to the pandemic. As a result, we were able to move almost 97 percent of our credit classes online. Our requirements for faculty to teach online are considered an industry best practice. The SBCC Foundation, a stalwart partner for the institution, stepped in to provide emergency grants to over 2,000 students to the tune of $2 million. No other community college compares to the level of support the SBCC Foundation, and by extension, our community has for the institution. We thank the community for its generous support of our Foundation.