I’ve lived in this community for almost three years now. I know, that’s a flash in the pan compared to most of you. But in that short time, as president of Peninsula College, I’ve had the privilege of witnessing over and over what makes our community extraordinary: our people.

The students, staff, faculty and broader community pour their hearts into making Peninsula College not just a place of learning, but a place of belonging.

Today I’m writing not just to celebrate that spirit but to be transparent about the road ahead. Across the state and the country, we find ourselves on the brink of a budget crisis. Proposed cuts passed by the U.S. House of Representatives and being debated in the U.S. Senate, if enacted, threaten the future of community colleges across the country. Our mission at PC is not immune.

As the Peninsula Daily News accurately reported, the college is cutting 7 percent from its budget, which is $2.2 million. That’s a significant hit for a small college like ours.

To help paint the full picture, this reduction is due to three reasons: one-third comes from direct cuts in state funding, one-third will be used to pay down a long-standing debt carried since the pandemic, and one-third is earmarked for strategic investments, including hiring faculty to support our applied bachelor’s programs in behavioral health and K-8 teacher preparation.

The behavioral health program is full and graduates its first cohort today. We hope to secure accreditation for the K-8 degree in July and start in the fall.

These investments will also help us honor long-standing commitments to our dedicated employees, many of whom are underpaid and overworked.

Even with these careful budget decisions, we must face a hard truth: we cannot protect everything. That means making some incredibly tough, but necessary, choices about how and where we allocate our resources.

As has been reported recently, we will be closing our Fort Worden campus in Port Townsend effective Sept. 1. This was not an easy decision, and it weighs heavily on me. But it is necessary to help stabilize our budget and secure the long-term health of the college. Enrollment has dwindled at Fort Worden for many years, even pre-pandemic.

Our commitment to the East Jefferson County community is unwavering. We’re already taking steps to establish a support office in Port Hadlock, and we’re working closely with community partners to continue offering select in-person classes that have been popular with students in strategic locations closer to where students live and work.

We’ve also made the difficult decision to change how we offer music classes. These courses, while beloved, are largely attended by senior citizens auditing the classes and have few degree-seeking students. With high instructional costs and limited student impact, we plan to move these music courses to a self-supporting Continuing Education model so classes and performances may continue.

Smaller adjustments will be made across the college as well, including reduced spending on travel, software, professional memberships and employee tuition programs.

I won’t sugarcoat it: These changes are difficult.

I also want to emphasize what will not change. Peninsula College will remain focused on student success. We will continue to provide high-quality education and supportive services. We will continue to innovate, collaborate and reach out. And we will continue to be a place where people from all walks of life feel welcome and supported.

To every student, employee, partner and community member: thank you. Thank you for your support, your understanding and your belief in the power of higher education. Together, we will continue to face these challenges with hope, courage and strength.

Together, we are resilient.

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Suzy Ames is president of Peninsula College.