The Guardsman, Vol 167, Issue 1, City College of San Francisco

Page 1

Vol. 167, Issue 1 | Jan. 23 – Feb. 5, 2019 | City College of San Francisco | Since 1935 | FREE

Extension for Free City program added to November Ballot By Lisa Martin

lisamartin.562@gmail.com

In a step toward making City College’s Free City program more permanent, the San Francisco Board of Supervisors voted 7-1 on Dec 18, 2018, to put a new charter amendment on the November 2019 ballot that would secure new funding for the program. If passed by San Francisco voters, the amendment would create a “set aside” from the city’s general fund for the Free City College Fund, which would receive a baseline of $15 million dollars annually over 10 years, starting 2020. Former District Six Supervisor Jane Kim presided over the meeting, the last of her eight-year term. In 2016, Kim’s office spearheaded Proposition W, which raised the property transfer tax on real estate sales over $5 million and currently funds Free City. “We wanted the (Free City) pilot to begin and get our foot in the door, and the program has been much more wildly successful and popular than I think any of us —  even the strongest advocates among us — have anticipated,” Kim said before the vote. In its first year, the tax created by Proposition W raised $27 million. However, City College almost immediately had trouble securing enough money from it to fully pay for the tuition of students it was supposed to cover. Following a deal negotiated between the late Mayor Ed Lee and the college, the city created a Memorandum of Understanding that set aside $11.2 million to cover costs for the pilot program for 2 years.

“As a set aside, the mayor cannot refuse to spend the money because it would be violating the will of the voters”

District Six Supervisor Jane Kim addresses the crowd in support of extending City College’s Free City program before her term ends in January 2019. Supporters gathered at City hall an hour before the Board of Supervisors held their vote to put the Free City program on the November 2019 ballot on Tuesday, Dec. 18, 2018. Photo by Cliff Fernandes / The Guardsman.

— Ivy Lee, City College Trustee

sition W passed at the ballot. However, the mayor at the At a special meeting on Dec. 6, 2018, City College’s time disagreed with the amount, and he had the power to board of trustees gathered to show support for the charter not actually spend the $10 million that was appropriated by amendment. They voted 6-1 to adopt a resolution stating: Not only is Free City set to expire in June 2019, but it does the Board of Supervisors and we had to negotiate with his “The Board of Trustees of City College of San Francisco not cover the actual cost of the program. City College was office to secure any dollars at all for the program,” said City supports the Free City Charter Amendment now before the forced to ask the city for an additional $4.77 million in June College Trustee Ivy Lee, an architect behind Proposition San Francisco Board of Supervisors with the proviso that 2018 to cover debt incurred running the Free City program. W. “As a set aside, the mayor cannot refuse to spend the the program be improved for our students and provides “When we originally created the Free City program, money because it would be violating the will of the voters the flexibility necessary for the successful administration the Board of Supervisors voted to appropriate almost since every set aside must be voted upon by the voters to of the program.” $10 million dollars to be spent on Free City if Propo- go into effect,” Lee said. Free City continued on page 2

Registration extended amid software malfunctions By Sarah Berjan

According to the City College website, Banner 9 delivers a fresh user experience, new sberjan@mail.ccsf.edu tools and improved functionality across all areas Upon receiving 402 calls from students where used. It also functions on mobile devices. about registration issues between Jan. 7 But for two months, the college community and 15, City College extended its spring has coped with a fusillade of malfunctions and 2019 registration deadline by one technical difficulties. When they tried enrolling week, until Feb. 4. online both before and during the first day of The issues were created by school, students were met by the message, “An City College’s administrative error has occurred during the processing of software Banner 9, which your registration. Please try to submit again.” the college imple“It’s been annoying. There is not a lot of mented on Nov. 11, direction to it. It’s kind of confusing, more 2018. Its predeces- than what it should be,” third-semester student sor, Banner 8, was Christian Thomas said. “I have not been able going to no longer to register in any other classes than the one that be supported by the I registered for a while back. I’ve been told to end of 2018. go to my classes and pick up an add form, but either way, it is still taking a while.” Chancellor Dr. Mark Rocha stated on Jan. 8 that no classes will be cut until all Banner 9 registration issues are resolved. He apologized, and assured that the college’s information technology staff was addressing the problem “24/7.” “Our first concern is for our students and their ability to register for the courses they need this spring. We also want to minimize the impact on part-time faculty who are Illustration by Chiara Di Martino

scheduled to teach this spring,” Rocha stated. College officials have urged students in a series of emails to register in person, call a help-line and show up to class even if unlisted in the system. They advised a “temporary plan-B” where students they may register in person at any college center, and stated that the college will open registration offices during nights and weekends if necessary. The Outreach Department stated in an email that until Jan. 28, credited students do not need an add-code to enroll in classes with space available. Add-codes themselves have proved dysfunctional. “I was first on the waitlist, then the wait list totally disappeared. I couldn’t even see my courses anymore,” fourth-semester student Caroline Johnson said. Then, when I finally got the add-code from my professor, I tried to add it. Then, it said it was just invalid. I got a new one from him today, and the same thing happened.” While the college has made many efforts to ameliorate problems related to student registration, the issues extend beyond classes themselves. With the Banner 9’s “Student Portal” feature down, transferring students were also inconvenienced by the software malfunction. Banner 9 continued on page 2


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