Colleges’ chancellor retires

California Community College

Chancellor Jack Scott announced his resignation as head of the state’s higher education system, after over two years in the position March 6. His resignation will take effect Sept. 1.

“I only know of him by reputation,”

Vice President of Academic Affairs

Anna Davies said of Scott. “It’s sad for us as a system because he was a really strong advocate for community colleges.”

Jack Scott is not retiring because of recent budget battles, but because he has been working 58 years and is ready for a less demanding life, he said in an interview with the Los Angeles Times March 7.

“I think he’s done a really good job of helping the legislature and the politicians understand what are issues are,” Davies said.

During his years as chancellor, student fees went from $26 to $36 per unit, and overall enrollment fell by 200,000 and classes declined by 10 percent.

“He’s not a miracle worker, but he’s been effective in his advocacy,” Carl Friedlander said in an interview with the LA Times.

In a statement sent to community colleges statewide, Scott said he enjoyed his time as chancellor and has been received warmly in Sacramento and by trustees, faculty, staff, administrators and students on college campuses.

“He has been a tireless advocate for higher education and a champion for students,” said California State University system Chancellor Charles B. Reed in a press release issued March 6.

Scott told the LA Times that after he steps down on Sept. 1, he will write, do some part-time education consulting and rebuild his home in Altadena, which was destroyed by an electrical fire on Christmas Day.

“I can’t make it,” Health Center director Beth Benne said. “I can’t make my budget at the level we are with just the student health fees. I simply don’t get enough.”

The health fee at Pierce has been $8 for about 10 years. The district is in charge of any possible fee raises.

“I have to cut my [payroll] hours by at least 50 percent.” Benne said. “I have to cut physician, nurse practitioner and psychologist hours.”

The health center has pulled from reserve funds in the past, but doesn’t have anymore to cover the cost of operating with normal hours.

“We estimated that we would get $500,000 this year in student health fees, and it looks like we are only going to get $410,000,” Benne said.

Some of the other colleges in the district, such as Los Angeles Valley College, use contracted-out health centers, resulting in higher cost to students for lab tests than at Pierce said Benne.

“Valley students were coming over because I was only charging $6 [for required shots for nursing students], and she was charging $50 because that’s what the lab at Valley Hospital told them to charge,” said Benne.

Students can use health centers at any of the community colleges in Los Angeles.

Valley College’s health center offers less hours of service, and some of their students come to the Pierce health center for appointments, Benne said.

Only 6 percent of Pierce students use the healthcare center, she said.

“I think cuts to the center would be bad for me because I don’t have a lot of flexibility in my schedule,” Jovan Avalos, student who uses the Health Center’s services, said.

“The frustrating thing is, on all campuses, such a few number of students are aware of [the Health Center] that their voices, if they have any complaints, really aren’t heard,” Benne said.

• Petty theft: A man’s bicycle was stolen from outside the library March 6.

• Arrest: Two men were arrested for posing as construction workers and possessing tools fit for burglary March 6.

Petty theft: A woman’s purse was stolen. The purse was found in a men’s restrooms on campus. A bankcard, iPod and voice recorder were stolen March 8.

• Petty theft: A woman’s phone was stolen at the library March 12. Co