Last week, SFR received an urgent call from an anonymous Santa Fe Community College adjunct instructor, who reported that spring semester classes were being cut without warning and only three days after in-state registration began.

The budget, as usual, is the culprit, SFCC President Sheila Ortego tells SFR.

“We’re having to make some very tough decisions right now,” Ortego says. “Classes that aren’t linked to degrees have to be cut.” 

According to Ron Liss, SFCC’s vice president of academic and student affairs, approximately 20 courses have been cut so far. Usually, only five to 10 courses are cut this early, Liss says—but since registrations have increased 64 percent since last spring, he’s trying to give students ample time to enroll in something else.