More Classes on the Chopping Block in San Mateo Community College District - Rebecca Rosen Lum, San Mateo Patch

The San Mateo Community College district plans to eliminate its horticulture department and whittle foreign language offerings to two – Spanish and Chinese. American Sign Language, Japanese, Italian, humanities, horticulture and meteorology are on the chopping block. The board of trustees are expected to approve the cuts at tonight's meeting. It's a scenario playing out in community college districts throughout the state, the upshot of a dire state budget picture that has decimated course offerings and support services at California campuses. An 8 percent reduction in state funding has prompted a leap in fees, from $26 per unit to $36 this fall. Fees could jump by another $10 in the spring if budget projections fail to materialize.