The Budget and Planning Committee was forced to discussed the idea of cancelling one of the summer sessions last Thrusday.

Though it is still not clear whether or not a summer session will be suspended, it is clear that more classes will need to be cut.

Acting President Bill Farmer stated, “I would like for students to understand that if a summer session is cancelled, the cut would not be made by choice or preference, but because of absolute necessity.”

Based on current enrollment numbers, Cerritos College will have met its enrollment target by the end of Spring 2009.

Therefore, any summer classes and courses offered after July 1, will not be funded by the state and will need to be paid for by Cerritos College.

“If we (Cerritos) offer any classes after July 1, they will need to be paid for by the college. The money will come directly from us,” explained Farmer.

If the college decides to offer such classes or courses, the state will not reimburse it for said classes.

Farmer added, “If the college spends the money in summer sessions, it will have less money to offer classes in the future semesters such as Fall 2009 and perhaps Spring 2010.”

Classes will need to be cut somewhere anyway, Farmer informed the committee.

That is why the option of cancelling a summer session is being considered.

The school is considering cutting classes not only in a short time period, but also in a period where the school will not be reimbursed for the money it spends.

If such a decision is made, notifications will be posted and announced to students so that they may plan ahead and proceed to enrolling in the only summer session that will be offered.

Maria Fontes, English major, felt overwhelmed that the cancellation is even a possibility.

“I’m trying to finish my classes as soon as possible so I was looking forward to the two summer sesssions,” she said. “I already stressed out over this semester’s classes now I have to plan to stress out for the summer classes.”

David Martinez, sociology major, feels differently.

He stated, “I would prefer for the school to cut summer classes than to cut classes in the Fall or Spring where more students enroll. I think they would be wise to do so.”

Though the possibility is still being discussed, cancelling the second summer session does look to be way to go in order to save money to provide more classes to students.

“It is not a sure thing yet, ” Farmer clarified. “The possibility is still being discussed. However, if the school does decide to offer both summer sessions, it will need to cut even more classes and courses offered in future semesters.”