Delta's student government gives help for disabled student programs

Almost a week after funding for disabled student programs at Delta College took a big hit as part of the $8.3 million in budget cuts approved by the college's Board of Trustees, the school's Associated Student Body Government has come to their rescue.

At a special meeting on Monday, the ASBG voted to give the Delta's Disability Support Programs and Services and Extended Opportunity Programs and Services groups $94,000 to help them continue their student services.

"I was really pleased when I heard that. It was amazing and it was a unanimous vote," said Delta College Superintendent and President Raul Rodriguez. "The ASBG has come a long way and they are being very responsive to the needs of students in helping out our needy programs."

The DSPS money will be spent on services including helping students who have mobility challenges, or those who need note takers or American Sign Language interpreters, as well as provide counseling and other services.

The money given to the EOPS will help underprivileged students, including those who are non-native English speakers, first-generation college students or who did not graduate from high school or get a General Education diploma.

The ASBG funds were generated from the student-run flea market. The flea market is the ASBG's primary source of income and is held nearly every weekend on Delta's campus. The decision is a bright spot for the ASBG's flea market, which, under a former supervisor, came under investigation for allegations of fraud, embezzlement and sexual harassment in November 2008.

Delta College received more good news this week as the school was ranked 18th among two-year institutions and 26th overall (two and four-year institutions) by Community College Week Magazine's "Top 100 Associated Degree Producers." The ranking covers all disciplines and is based on Delta graduating 2,231 students in 2008.

Delta special meeting at a glance

What: The Delta College Board of Trustees will be holding a special meeting.
When: 5 p.m. tonight.
Where: Delta College Board Room, Administration Building 103, 5151 Pacific Ave., Stockton.
Key items: The Trustees will be discussing layoffs and other ways to save money after passing $8.3 million in cuts at their regularly scheduled meeting last week.
News-Sentinel staff

The rankings are derived from a pool of more than 5,000 institutions across the United States.

Delta also ranked high in individual college rankings, including Family and Consumer Sciences/Human Sciences (first) Liberal Arts, General Studies and Humanities (19th) and Communication, Journalism and Related Programs (46th).

"It's pretty amazing when you consider our demographics and the population we serve," Rodriguez said.

The college also got high marks for degrees awarded to Asian Americans (fourth), Hispanics (23rd) and Native Americans (70th).

"These are statistics; they only tell part of the story. For each number, there is a unique person who will go into the world and take a small part of San Joaquin Delta College with them," Rodriguez said. "These graduates represent our mission and our legacy."

Contact reporter Joelle Milholm at joellem@lodinews.com.

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