PD Editorial: Giving SRJC a hand in its recovery

Economic recovery stories are becoming familiar these days. But few are as welcome as the one being told about the Santa Rosa Junior College.

As President Frank Chong spelled out last week during his second state of the campus address, the community college is pulling out of its five-year slump, one that saw Doyle Scholarships frozen, the budget cut 12 percent and student enrollment drop 20 percent.

But the Doyle Scholarship program is back on track and so are academic offerings. The junior college has added back 500 sections for next fall. That represents only about a quarter of the classes that have been lost over the past five years, but as Chong noted, "it's a step in the right direction."

This rebound is being fueled by several sources, including approval of Proposition 30 in the fall which, Chong noted, allowed SRJC to "stop the bleeding" through the infusion of $200 million for community colleges across the state.

In addition, the local community has responded in force. According to Chong, despite the economic downturn, the alumni association has managed to raise more than $20.6 million in the past five years to support SRJC students and the College.

SRJC also received a one-time $6 million donation from an individual donor who wishes to remain anonymous. The gift will be used to launch a teacher fellowship program and a program to help students facing personal or family emergencies get the financial help they need to achieve their goals.

Chong also has pledged to bring back classes for those residents who already have degrees but want to enroll to better themselves or help prepare for a job change. Many of these individuals have found it difficult to access classes due to the priority given in recent months to those without degrees.

Santa Rosa Junior College still faces some serious long-term challenges, however, primarily due to its aging buildings - and an aging staff.

As Chong noted, half of the college's faculty and classified staff are eligible to retire as are about 90 percent of its administrators. This is one of the needs the college hopes to address by establishing the teacher fellowship program.

Meanwhile, although the school has benefited from the building of a new library, a student center, the Petaluma campus, a culinary center and other structures thanks to the passage of a $250 million bond in 2002, many of the college's buildings are more than 80 years old and are in need of attention.

Chong said the college is addressing its financial needs by aggressively pursuing state and federal grants, recruiting more international students and expanding its appeal to local donors for help.

History shows the latter in particular has been a reliable source even in the worst of times. Chong said he's optimistic "because for 94 years we've been there for the community and every time we go to the community for support, you are there for us."

Congratulations to Santa Rosa Junior College for graduating to better times - and to the many residents and businesses who had a hand in making that happen.