All but one adjunct counselor was terminated in winter 2018.
Now, fewer than 10 adjuncts work in the counseling department. Fifty adjunct counseling positions were funded by the Student Success and Support Program over the last two years, according to the Faculty
Union Newsletter.
Because these funds were mismanaged, all adjunct hours were cut in half in the middle of the fall 2017 semester.
“As full-time counselors have joined the college, the number of adjunct counselors needed to be reduced,” Dean of Counseling Lucinda Over said in an email.
All of the counselors on the staff directory were emailed and they declined to comment.
Every October, California sends each district money.
This year, the amount for the SSSP was reduced. “Citrus College has made changes to existing services to better serve students,” Over said.
In the last four years, Citrus has hired several full-time counselors in programs that include CalWORKs, Career/Transfer Center, Disabled Students Programs and Services, Extended Opportunities Programs
and Services (EOPS), and the Student Success and Support Program.
As full-time counselors have joined the college, the number of adjunct counselors needed to be reduced.
Citrus College had 40 adjunct counselors last fall and now have 22. Over said this is because of the most recent allocations for the Student Success and Support Program were reduced.
This means there are fewer counselors. Over said most students who make an appointment should be accommodated within one week. Citrus College will hire an Extended Opportunities Programs and Services counselor, in spring 2018.
Over said Citrus College has made changes to existing services, such as hiring evaluators to assist with graduation applications. These applications used to be reviewed by counselors, but the process will be
handled by Admissions and Records this fall.
Completion advisor Crystal Ibarra is the first completion adviser hired at Citrus.
“The counseling team is also benefiting from a new advisor who helps schedule orientations, helps students understand assessment scores, and assists counselors with projects,” Over said.
