Palomar, don’t just cut classes

Palomar is becoming a smaller college and is potentially losing its large-college bonus of $1 million dollar a year.

Campus officials have advocated for enrollment management strategies to balance this loss.

This could result in fewer classes for students and fewer teaching opportunities for part-time faculty.

Sure, this plan is a workable solution, but potentially threatening the jobs of part-time faculty should be a last resort.

There’s little that can be done to improve enrollment numbers. We understand that part.

But we urge campus officials to keep students and part-time faculty — the ones who will feel the effects of class cuts the hardest — in mind.

Offering the correct amount of classes is important, and we understand that. But to have the main burden of funding cuts fall on our students and staff is counter-productive.

Palomar’s priority seems to be transfer rates. So they can’t just cut general education classes (which are already hard to get into).

That often means fringe classes or classes or lower enrollments are the first ones to be cut.

But that isn’t the best solution. People still come here to take classes for personal development, and not just to transfer. Don’t forget about them.

Class cuts affect people — both students and faculty. Don’t forget that.

The transition to a medium college might be rocky for the campus community.

We urge Palomar administrators to strive for transparency in the coming years. Don’t let students and part-time faculty down as an easy solution.