Amid declining enrollment and budget cuts, Santa Rosa Junior College - Petaluma remains poised to adapt to the changing higher education landscape, according to Jane Saldana-Talley, the SRJC vice president in charge of the campus.
At the annual campus breakfast June 8 that also highlighted the college’s film and media studies program, Saldana-Talley said that an improved economy and lower unemployment means that fewer people are taking junior college classes, leading to a decline in enrollment. She said that the campus faces a $500,000 budget cut for next school year.
“When budgets get tight, people’s table manners change,” she said. “Over the years, I’ve learned not to overreact. I remain vigilant and aware that we must remain relevant to this community.”
She highlighted several developments at the campus in the past year, including the opening of a new intercultural center, visits from members of Congress, the hiring of new faculty and a successful LumaFest campus fair. She said the campus is continuing to spend $15.7 million in voter-approved bonds on new science labs and library research space.
SRJC President Frank Chong said that, while the Petaluma campus is doing “extraordinary things,” the overall financial situation at the school is not rosy.
“We have some challenges ahead,” he said. “We are finding ourselves in a funding crunch.”
Keynote speaker Ali Afshar, a Casa Grande High School graduate and former SRJC student, highlighted the success of the school’s film program. Afshar, who immigrated to the U.S. from Iran in 1979, has gone on to start a successful movie production company, and has filmed several movies in Petaluma with actors including Jon Voight, Sharon Stone and Chris “Ludacris” Bridges.
Afshar credited another Petaluma connection for his success. He said Voight introduced him to Kevin Tsujihara, a Petaluma native and CEO of Warner Bros. Entertainment. Afshar’s company is now based on the Warner Bros. lot, he said.
While he has found success in Hollywood, Afshar said he continues to return to Petaluma to make his movies and hinted at possibly opening a production studio in the city. He said the people and landscape of Petaluma provide a good movie making environment.
“I love the fact that everyone is so supportive here,” he said. “I want to do big and great things and bring attention to this town.”
Michael Traina, who teaches film and media studies at SRJC, talked about the importance of media literacy. Traina directs the Petaluma Film Alliance, which operates the Petaluma Cinema Series during the school year and the annual Film Fest Petaluma.
“We’re not just teaching students the language of cinema,” he said. “We are giving students media literacy skills for life.”
Two SRJC film students showed short films and talked about how the program has helped them succeed in their career. Miles Levin, director of “Little Soldiers,” said that students leave the program and immediately find work in the film industry.
“The camaraderie and support allows is to become filmmakers right in our hometown and our backyard,” he said.
Louie Poore, who directed “Lift,” said working with other aspiring filmmakers at the campus has helped him creatively.
“The community is really the biggest takeaway,” he said. “With so many layers and so much depth, it’s really exciting to be a part of.”
(Contact Matt Brown at matt.brown@arguscourier.com.)
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