AIRCRAFT MECHANICS MAY BE DROPPED LITTLE DEMAND FOR CLASS, SAYS COLLEGE.

Byline: Naush Boghossian Staff Writer

GLENDALE - Glendale Community College, one of three schools in Los Angeles County to offer aviation mechanics, on Monday will consider dropping the more than 60-year-old vocational program.

Citing falling enrollment and rising costs, college officials said they failed to generate more student interest despite heavy promotion. The program has been operating with fewer than 30 students for years, while more than 60 are needed just to break even, officials said.

The college will either phase out the program so its 21 students can finish, or students will be helped to complete the course at either Mount San Antonio College or West Los Angeles Community College.

``It's very, very difficult to meet the needs of students when there's low enrollment because it's so expensive to run,'' board member Armine Hacopian said. ``If the students are not there, it's not financially feasible so we have to cut programs that are in danger.''

The move comes just as Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger urged expanding vocational education programs in California.

The FAA-certified two-year program teaches students skills like how to repair aircraft engines and prepares them for well-paying jobs.

Student Phil Samuelian said Glendale College, with the only nighttime program around, was his only hope of getting certified, and he's extremely disappointed with the administration's decision.

``It's unfortunate that vocational education is suffering. It's unfortunate that motivated students are being turned out. It's unfortunate that a well-respected program that has a long history in Glendale and has evolved into a fine institution is being dropped,'' said Samuelian, 46, who owns a plane and wants to be able to maintain it himself.

``There seems to be a push within academia to shut down vocational education.''

But college officials emphasized they have no intention of phasing out vocational training.

``There's tremendous market need in vocational training, but it's cyclical,'' Hacopian said.

For example, enrollment has dipped in the once extremely popular electronics and computer repair program. But culinary arts interest is on the rise and the school is expanding its popular digital arts program, which teaches television production, animation and graphics design.

There are no plans to cut any other programs, said Steven White, vice president of instructional services at the college.

``The environment for technical training is changing ... and I anticipate a shift of resources from things like aviation to programs like digital arts,'' White said. ``We're under continuous budget pressures and in this kind of environment when we have so few students in an expensive program like aviation, we just can't do it when there are waiting lines for other programs.''

Naush Boghossian, [phone]

naush.boghossian(at)dailynews.com

IF YOU GO:

The Glendale Community College Board of Trustees will hold a special meeting at 5 p.m. Monday at Kreider Hall in the San Rafael Building, 1500 N. Verdugo Road.

CAPTION(S):

box

Box:

IF YOU GO (see text)