Published to The Commuter January 18th, 2024
Gregory Stutheit is an electrical and computer engineering student with dreams of developing audio manipulation and production equipment for music studios.
He started his education journey at LBCC because he knew it would take him a long time to get his computer science degree, but with the support the college has been known for he knew he could make it happen. Like many students, Stutheit is juggling work, school, and an extracurricular club.
With two terms left before computer science is slated to end, Stutheit and fellow computer science students can’t help but feel like they’re being left high and dry.
“After they cut the computer science program, it feels like it’s going to take 10 years for me to get a bachelor's degree at my learning pace, if at all,” said Stutheit.
Last school year, LBCC’s administration announced budget cuts that slashed a handful of impactful programs and positions, including the faculty librarians in the main campus library, adult basic skills, criminal justice, as well as the computer science and computer information systems programs.
In its final year, the computer science (CS) program has 91 students with a major declared in either computer science or computer information systems, seven faculty members, and is offering 20 classes this winter term. Seven of those classes were full with waitlists brimming with students hopeful to get in.
The CS faculty values teaching the hungry, driven students who enroll at LBCC, providing mentorship and opportunity to those students trying to pick themselves up by their bootstraps, and bringing equity into tech classrooms and career spaces of our community.
Computer science instructor Sisi Virasak’s voice wavered as she explained why the CS program is unique and important to the Linn-Benton community. “We are a school of diverse learners; we are a community college working together as a community to help our students be successful.”
“We’ll help students get textbooks, allow extra time for assignments, and listen to what they need to succeed,” said Virasak, talking about necessary accommodations made to help students of all backgrounds flourish.
“Some of these students are high school students, some of these students are single moms or working-class people and they need that instructor that will work with them. That’s what we are about.”
“OSU is a big shark. Instructors are busy writing grants, teaching assistants are busy working on getting their master’s, and they just can’t provide the same level of support,” said Virasak, “We are here for our students.”
Since the budget cut announcement, Virasak, CS faculty Joseph Jess, and their colleagues have been working to get students to a place where they can either enter the workforce or transfer to another institution.
In an email, Jess predicted that 60-80% of CS/CIS students will be at a good transfer point where only 45-60% will have completed their degree requirements.
“Students have been doing what they can. Most of them are trying to squeeze in as many classes as possible,” said Jess. “Many students have described their experience as anxious, nervous, confused, or concerned.”
“I have been trying to ease the students' feelings by being available for advising, tutoring-like work, and advising both academically and bits of career advice in areas that I have experience with that they show an interest in,” said Jess.
Nearly a year after the announced budget cuts, faculty and students still question the decision and the lack of transparency by LBCC's administration.
At the time the cuts were announced, administrators said computer science was an area of study where students can obtain training through online programs such as Coursera and Google. In addition, neighboring institutions, including Chemeketa and Lane Community Colleges and Oregon State University, offer computer science programs.
LBCC’s administration remains steadfast in its plans for program cuts, while some say it still stings that administrative raises last spring matched some of the cuts.
LBCC Board of Education Chair Kristen Adams echoed the sentiment presented by college President Lisa Avery last spring.
“The statewide enrollment decline for community colleges, as well as a 10-year funding disinvestment by the state, have forced all of the community colleges to look in the mirror and consider our role going forward,” Adams said. “It's never easy to end any program. However, public institutions must be responsible with their budgets, and this decision was made with careful consideration for the college's overall health and sustainability.”
In 2023, President Avery projected that cutting the CS program would save the college around $612,000.
Jess noted the amount of tuition that has been brought in by CS and CIS classes since spring 2023 is over $450,000. According to Jess, that number does not include the tuition CS students contribute by taking non-CS classes such as math, sciences, and humanities that make up two-thirds of the required course load needed to obtain a transfer degree.
“If they really wanted to save our program they could,” said Virasak. “There is the Oregon Workforce Ready grant. Mount Hood Community College and Portland Community College were some of the recipients. It's for technology, healthcare, manufacturing.”
Virasak continued, “I recently attended the Oregon Cyber Resilience Summit, where (State) Rep. Nancy Nathanson discussed a statewide funding and education initiative to get students prepared for cybersecurity careers.”
Currently, there is a large job gap in the cybersecurity industry in Oregon with more than 5,000 positions going unfilled.
“Fields like cybersecurity, computer science, and AI are continuing to grow,” said Virasak.
CS/CIS student and faculty suspicion and distrust of the administration also stems from a lack of support and communication.
“When these cuts were first made, the school sent out an email asking us to reach out. However, the burden ended up on instructors to help panicked students determine the best course of action,” said cybersecurity major Keri Grigas.
Grigas said students in her CS cohort feel depressed, disposable, and worthless. “This is stripping our community of (computer science) opportunities.”
“There are only two terms left and we still don’t have a teach-out plan,” said Virasak. “We are getting incoming students that are taking CS classes that don’t know the program is ending.”
However, that statement doesn’t align with the claim of Board Chair Adams, who said, “The teach-out plan for LBCC's computer science program was created last spring and updated each term with approval by Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities.”
LBCC Public Information Officer Matt Scotton also noted that LBCC is offering support to students as they prepare to transition to another institution or the workforce by “arranging advising meetings to discuss their plans for the upcoming academic year.”
What CS students say they want is to be heard and be given the hard facts as to why the computer science program is being eliminated.
“Learning online isn’t good for my learning style, so being told to complete my degree online is completely missing the point,” said Stutheit.
Stutheit said LBCC’s computer science program is important to so many because it is locally accessible with affordable tuition.
“Now that the CS program has been cut, I’m done with school,” said Stutheit, “I just don’t see another way for me.”
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