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Board approves Cabrillo College shift to biennial dental hygiene cohort amid budget pressures
Summary
Cabrillo College will admit cohorts of 20 dental hygiene students every other year after the board approved a change in enrollment pattern, citing fiscal constraints and state funding formula pressures.
The Dental Hygiene Board voted to approve Cabrillo College’s request to change its dental hygiene program enrollment pattern to admit 20 students every other year rather than annually.
The education committee moved the recommendation to approve the change; Justin Matthews made the motion and Sherman King seconded. After committee discussion and a roll call, the motion passed.
Cabrillo representatives told the board the request responds to fiscal challenges driven by shifts in the California community college funding formula, declining enrollments and reduced revenue streams formerly supported by professional development courses. President Matt West and program staff said the college needs to reduce program capacity to maintain fiscal stability while preserving program quality.
College leaders described prior revenue from weekend “expanded duties” courses used by working professionals that generated fees the program had relied on; those courses are decreasing because of regulation changes and will no longer sustain faculty salaries as they once did. President West said the combination of reduced state funding and diminished non‑tuition revenue prompted the request. “Our funding formula…represents a possible loss of cost of living adjustments…declining enrollment and the demographic challenges that we face in our district,” he told the committee.
Public commenters and advisory‑board members asked about continuity of care for patients served by the program’s clinic and whether partnerships would redirect cases that students cannot complete. Cabrillo said faculty numbers will be maintained and community partners such as low‑income clinics can receive referrals when students are unable to provide needed treatment.
The Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA) had already approved Cabrillo’s change; Cabrillo provided documentation to the board during the meeting.
Votes at a glance: The committee recommended approval; roll call recorded ayes from Michael Long, Sherman King, Justin Matthews, Joanne Pacheco and Lehi Lolly Tribble Agarwal. The motion passed.
