EOPS Appeals Huge Cuts in Their Budget

“We are in a very unique economic time,” said Lee Farley, Director of the Extended Opportunity Program and Services at Fresno City College.  EOPS is facing additional cuts, beyond what other campus programs are dealing with.
This year alone, EOPS has already suffered a cut of about $700,000 in its funding, and it's facing another loss of $180,000 at the FCC campus.
Farley also appealed to the Associated Student Government to get involved and raise awareness so students can have a say on this.
ASG is planning a visit to Sacramento to participate in the state wide rally on March 22. “Students will have the opportunity to meet with local legislators and talk about their problems and concerns regarding the cuts,” said Sergey Saluschev, ASG President.
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger proposed a plan that would provide less money for prisons, health services, transportation and environmental programs, but more for education. The governor said he wanted to prevent further cuts to the education budget. In this plan, however, EOPS is the only service that would receive a cut.
“I don’t know why EOPS,” said Farley.  “We have some speculation as for the reason of the cut, but we don’t know exactly why.”
The plan has not yet been passed and awaits approval by the legislature.
In the past, EOPS has served around 2,000 students a semester, but in response to budget cuts, the program has only been able to serve 1,500. “We have been trying to keep most of the cuts away from students,” stated Farley. With such a reduction, EOPS students have been receiving a $150 grant for books each year, instead of the $250 offered to previous qualifying students.
“Now I have to use my own money to pay for textbooks, it makes it harder.  Whatever we get from EOPS is still helpful,” said Criminology major, Isamar Cruz.
The EOPS program has also reduced the number of students on their VIP program, a program that gives students 18 to 25 a chance to get internships and jobs.
“We know that we have to get cut because of the economic situation, but why not a fair cut?”, Farley asked.