Improvements for Los Angeles Community College campuses, workforce development and enrollment management were the main topics of discussion as Mark Drummond, Los Angeles Community College District chancellor, spoke in the Campus Center on Nov. 27.
Speaking on what needs to be done, the chancellor stated, “We’re dealing with students who, in our district, we know that 60 percent of our students are below the federal poverty level. Our average student in this district takes eight credit hours and works 30 hours (a week).”
He added, “All the research shows that people in those circumstances have difficulty succeeding, so it means we have to change what we do to enable them to succeed.”
He added, “I think that most folks in our community have come to the realization that we’re no longer dealing with the students of the ’70s or even the ’80s, where a lot of students had the ability to be full-time students and had parental support,” said Drummond.
Another reason why students struggle, said Drummond, is that “there are a lot of jobs in this county, but there’s not the right employment in this county.”
The chancellor also said he wants to improve on the development of facilities around the LACCD, but said, “The governing board is not totally in tune with exactly where we are about the facilities progress.
“My opinion is we should try to move towards a bonded election a year from now.”
The next issue he noted was that seven of the nine community colleges in the LACCD are struggling with deficits. Pierce is one of two campuses that aren’t in a deficit.
“It seems to me that we’re throwing the furniture into the boiler to keep a ship going,” he said. “We have lower percentage of full-time faculty. I don’t see a bigger increase in student support services or other things that are important to student success.”
We’re all kind of hanging on and moving along, but we’re slowly using up these resources to keep going, and yet we’re still struggling financially.”
Although there are deficits from these colleges, he’s still optimistic about solving these problems and has a possible solution to at least help the decline.
“We still don’t have the funding we need from the State of California,” he said. “That’s why we all have to stay positive and energized about Proposition 92.
“Although that won’t fix it, that will stop the slide.”
After the meeting, history professor Richard McMillan commented on the chancellor and called the meeting “very productive.”
“He doesn’t dodge questions,” said McMillan. “He gave the only answer I could’ve expected.”
Pierce President Robert Garber, who was also present at the meeting, was pleased at having the chancellor on campus.
“It was great having the chancellor put himself in front of faculty and students.”
Los Angeles Community College District Chancellor Mark Drummond ()