it the biggest percentage increase in 12 years, according to the Chancellor's Office.
     Contra Costa College located in San Pablo in the Bay Area, has a 17 percent rise with 6,114 students enrolled. CCC has already turned students away from full classes while other colleges have had to cancel their classes due to low enrollment, according to "The Advocate," CCC's paper.
     Many classes are being cut in some districts because of the tight state budget. Approximately 20 of the 108 California campuses have already cut classes, but VVC has not had to drop any courses.
     Cancellations, however, have happened, Lewallen said, "There are always some classes cancelled due to low enrollment or occasionally classes will be canceled due to loss of instructor."
     With the increased enrollment and a tight budget, classes have reached capacity and more instructors have been in demand to meet the increasing

need. Since VVC is state-funded, VVC doesn't have all the resources and budget for the overflowing population, said Lewallen.
     In 1960, the state guaranteed every student the right to go to college: Community colleges have to accept every person who has a high school or general educational diploma.
     Some California community colleges may have to increase enrollment fees to handle the vast enrollment. As for VVC, Lewallen said, "Although an increase in enrollment fees could certainly provide additional revenue for community colleges, there is currently no support for increasing fees by the California legislature and the public in general."
     The state increased funding is up  three percent above the previous year's enrollment and this year's state budget included a $118.7 million increase for California's community colleges. Community college officials and higher education analysts say hard-pressed state governments are minimizing on spending.

     The enrollment for fall 2002 at Victor Valley College is 10,800 students taking credit classes and 1,500 students taking non-credit classes.
     When asked if this was higher or lower than previous years, Vice President Willard Lewallen said, "Almost identical to last fall."
     This is a 23 percent rise since 1994, making VVC the 12^th-fastest growing community college in the nation compared to other relatively small colleges, according to Community College Week.
     According to Lewallen, the high enrollment is due to young people reaching college age and not wanting or able to pay rising tuition at public four-year universities, and laid-off employees seeking to develop new job skills.
     Enrollment at most California community colleges is up to a 6.9 percent increase since last year, making

     Victor Valley College Planetarium has several programs geared for all ages, including daytime programs for school classes, scout troops and other non-profit youth groups.
     The planetarium shows over 7,000 stars and has 12 of the constellations of the zodiac, and most of the others. These multimedia programs uses slide projectors, lasers discs, CD's and audio computer systems.
     Dave Meyer is the president of the High Desert Astronomical Society and all VVC students are invited to join the local club to take advantage of the Luz Observatory (at the Lewis Center in