Free City Funding Slashed as CCSF Absorbs Millions in Costs

The City College of San Francisco (CCSF) Governing Board convened for a marathon session Feb. 17, tackling a $7.1 million gap in Free City tuition program funding, a contentious discrimination investigation appeal that drew nine public speakers, and encouraging enrollment data clouded by fears that immigration enforcement is driving students away.

• San Francisco cuts Free City funding from $16.4M to $9.3M, leaving City College absorbing all administrative costs while students accrue debt for late drops

• Eight public speakers urge the board to uphold investigation findings clearing two faculty members of discrimination charges; SEIU 1021 calls the process flawed

• Fall enrollment grows 3% in FTEs, with credit-side gains of 4.6% — but non-credit ESL and transitional studies decline amid ICE enforcement fears

• Over 800 dual enrollment students successfully relocated to City College campuses during the SFUSD teachers' strike

• Resource centers serving nearly 2,000 students run on $1.5–$1.7M in fragile grant funding; students call for a Black student resource center and student-led governance

• Women's History Month resolution adopted after debate over military language, with a compromise amendment

Why it matters: Free City — San Francisco's signature tuition-free community college program — is in financial jeopardy. The city has unilaterally slashed its contribution by more than 40%, and City College is now shouldering the full cost of running the program while students who drop classes late are being stuck with debt the program was supposed to eliminate.