The three finalists for the vacant role of Bakersfield College president spoke on campus Sept. 25-26 to discuss their qualifications and ideas for the future of BC. The candidates were asked a series of questions by faculty and students, and they were able to give their views on each topic mentioned.

For Kevin Trutna, the ideas of being close to the classroom, focusing on “program excellence” and basic education are important.

Trutna, currently a vice president at Yuba College in Northern California, talked about his time as a teacher and how its important to being a college president.

“I believe there is an educational component,” he said.

“I still consider myself a teacher. You draw upon that as an administrator. You ask, ‘How would I have taught that as a faculty member?’”

Trutna says he still goes in to visit classrooms to offer his assistance to students.

“I still go to the tutoring sessions before finals for math.  Being there helping, showing that, hey, I care about your success. Since I’m coming through, I’ll help you,” Trutna said.

“I want to know what this classroom is like with students in it, what the lighting is like, so when you complain the lighting isn’t right, and I can’t see my powerpoints, I have seen it.”

When asked about basic adult education, such as classes to get a GED and learn basic math and English, Trutna expressed a strong belief in it.

“It’s our job to educate who walks through the door,” he said.

“So there has to be a way where we can provide it, we can partner. Rationing education is poor public policy.

“Through our budget cuts, we have gone through a 12 percent course load reduction. If Proposition 30 doesn’t pass, seven percent more. We are telling 19 percent of our population ‘Sorry we don’t care about you. We can’t serve you.’

“How good is that for public policy? The people that come to us, whether it’s math, English,  or ESL needs, somehow or someway, we have to find a way [to educate them] or else our society’s in a downward tailspin.”

When the subject of cuts and reductions would be asked Trutna would talk about his idea of “program excellence.”

He believes that a college should focus on the programs that are wielding results and to make sure that those programs are well funded.

For decisions such as what to cut at a college, Trutna wants others to help him make those choices.

In reference to cuts he said, “ I would not come up with those myself. I think that needs to be defined by what we need as a college.”