Staff positions are often the first to go when colleges cut budgets. Over time, position elimination can destroy the career ladders on which employees based their plans. This chapter outlines how that dynamic emerged, and how the "guided pathways" movement may push against it.

Reviews institutional responses to and budgeting requirements of retrenchment. Presents and discusses nine guidelines for community colleges dealing with retrenchment, related to action rather than reaction, participatory budgeting, reexamination of priorities, consistently derived comparisons, financial projections, outcome measures, planning…

Discusses the need for designing a system of accountability for use in decision-making about allocations of resources for student services. Programs and staff adjustments should be made in response to the changing student population. (MB)

Discusses the role of state agencies in assisting community colleges to meet declining resources. Four priority areas, outside the routine administrative functions, are outlined: (1) information and accountability, (2) communication and advocacy, (3) funding, and (4) change agent responsibilities. (MB)

Examines the budget reduction crisis at New York City Community College and the retrenchment models which were implemented. (MB)

Analyzes the concepts of "planning and reallocation" and "pruning and grafting" as approaches to reducing academic costs when reductions are inevitable. The former concept involves long-range planning and organizational analysis of present programs and future goals; the latter focuses on elimination and consolidation of courses in accordance with…

In the face of reduced resources, recommends a well-considered, productive approach to decision-making, rather than a reactive approach, in areas of increasing faculty productivity, reducing full-time faculty, assessing community needs, developing new resources, and evaluating management. (MB)

Cites ERIC documents dealing with state finance and planning, federal aid, college management and planning systems, and nontraditional education and community services programs in a time of financial exigency. (MB)

The fate of community college counseling will be determined not only by budget retrenchment, but also by the actions of counselors themselves. Rather than attempting to do more with less, counselors should analyze student needs and make priority decisions about what can be done within available resources. (AYC)

Discusses the disadvantages of across-the-board budget cuts, arguing instead for the selective elimination of programs to counter economic deficiencies. Points to factors to consider in determining which programs are economically and academically weak. (AYC)

Reviews the advantages that community colleges gain from hiring part-time faculty during times of budget retrenchment. Looks at financial considerations, institutional ability to increase the scope of course offerings, part-timers' ability to provide specialized expertise and serve as a pool of experienced personnel from which to select full-time…

Urges community colleges to reaffirm their commitment to quality education in the midst of declining enrollments and budgets. Looks at quality considerations related to mission, the collegiate function in career programs, image and reputation, educational needs, long-range planning, cutbacks, and academic standards. (AYC)

Provides an annotated bibliography of ERIC materials dealing with the community college mission, educational quality, maintaining an effective faculty, effects and management of retrenchment, and the state role in community college education. (LAL)

The essays in this collection provide contrasting points of view on a number of community college issues that have become more pressing during periods of economic constraint. The volume contains: (1) "Part-Time Faculty: The Value of the Resource," by William R. C. Munsey; (2) "Part-Time Faculty, Full-Time Problems," by David Hartleb and William…

Describes California's 10-year struggle over state defunding of non-credit, recreational and avocational courses. Explains the criteria used to develop a list of courses to be defunded. Considers effects on community college finances, image, governance, mission, and access of the $30 million reduction in state support. (DMM)