Clarion 8/24/21

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CLARION citrus college

New health system keeps Owls in check

BY JUSTIN GEORGE

MANAGING EDITOR

JGEORGE@CCCLARION.COM

As part of Citrus College’s precautions for a safe reopening, students will be required to present a digital health pass upon arrival at campus.

In order to get a pass, students must complete the “Daily

Pre-Screening” survey in the CitrusMobile app. The survey asks about recent travels, contacts and symptoms of COVID-19.

If the student does not present a risk based on their survey responses, they are issued a digital health pass. The pass can be viewed on the student’s profile page in the CitrusMobile app by selecting Health & Wellness > My Campus

Pass. The pass is valid for 24 hours.

In addition, QR codes have been placed at the entrances of buildings for contact tracing purposes.

Students can scan the codes by clicking the square in the top left corner of the CitrusMobile app. Any building scanned is automatically added to the student’s location history. This will aid the college in any contact tracing if needed.

Online at

ccclarion.com VOL LXXV • Issue #1

August 24, 2021

LUCY ARGAEZ

Editorial

Vaccines and COVID tests will pave the way for safe return As Citrus College prepares to reopen amid a surge of COVID-19 cases, it should require vaccinations or testing among staff, students and faculty.

Approximately 71 California colleges have now required either vaccinations or continued testing for students, faculty and staff to return to in-person learning safely.

Citrus should be one of the first community colleges to do the same.

Over the fall 2020 and spring 2021 semesters, Citrus confirmed a total of six confirmed COVID-19 cases on campus. Those cases

happened while a limited number of faculty, staff and students deemed essential were allowed on campus.

However, in the past month alone, while the campus was mostly closed, the number of cases on campus has doubled.

In July, Citrus confirmed six cases of COVID-19. Of those cases, five were students and one was an employee.

Citrus should protect its students and employees any way that it can.

Read Vaccine, Page 2

New superintendent prioritizes student centered leadership

BY LUCY ARGAEZ

EDITOR- IN - CHIEF

LARGAEZ@CCCLARION.COM

Editor’s note: This interview has been edited and condensed.

Citrus College’s eighth superintendent/president was appointed June 15, He officially started his position at Citrus on July 1.

Greg Schulz was the president of Fullerton College for five years.

He has more than 21 years of leadership experience in California community colleges.

Knowing this, the Clarion wanted to share with Citrus students what the new superintendent/ president’s goals are for the fall semester. This interview was conducted over the phone.

Q: What are you most looking forward to at Citrus and why?

A: I am really excited about joining the Citrus College campus

community. The faculty, staff and managers care deeply about Citrus student success. I know this based on my active listening and research.

I can’t wait to meet the students of Citrus College.

I am also excited about our future and being able to come back (to campus) safely. That way, students can learn and be supported in an in-person environment.

Read Leader, Page 8

SCHULZ

2 Tuesday, August 24, 2021

Opinion

CLARION

Letter

To tell a story the right way

ARGAEZ

Opinion

The return to campus will affect the students who thrived in an online environment, so Citrus should continue allowing students to participate virtually in their classes

BY JUSTIN GEORGE

JGEORGE@CCCLARION.COM

This past year, the faculty, students and staff of Citrus College have had to innovate to continue teaching, learning, and operating a campus from home.

Now, as the college reopens for inperson learning, students should have the option to continue their education from home if they so wish.

When COVID-19 restrictions forced teachers and students out of classrooms in early 2020, many had to scramble to figure out how to lead their professional and academic lives from home.

Teachers learned to use new online resources to carry out their curriculum, such as Zoom and digital texts. Many students didn’t have any choice but to adapt.

Without a physical campus to commute to, students are now able to balance a college education with family duties, personal lives and even full-time jobs.

“My goal for the paper this semester is to reflect the voices of the people at Citrus.”

Lucy Argaez

editor-in-chief storytelling. I was 16 when I first put my years of knowledge to use in my high school paper and I haven’t stopped since.

My favorite part however of learning those lessons in story telling were the connections and relationships I formed with the people whose stories I told. i hope to learnmore about Citrus and my fellow owls this way.

Welcome to the 75 volume of The Clarion. I am excited to be the fall 2021 editor-in-chief and tell your stories. After a year of online learning and social distancing I hope to reawaken the connections between our publication and the Citrus community.

My goal for the paper this semester is to reflect the voices of the people at Citrus. I want our paper to be a place where people can feel informed, supported and heard. So please feel free to come forward with anything you would like for us to cover.

Everyone has a story; The Clarion staff and I have the privilege of being able to share those stories and experiences. I look forward to working with and for the campus community, and for what our first semester back will bring us.

Sincerely, Lucy Argaez

CITRUS COLLEGE

Online learning benefits all

MANAGING EDITOR

Dear Reader, Writing and creating this issue of The Clarion reminded me of how I fell in love with journalism and the human connection it requires to be possible.

It started off innocently enough, asking “why” on repeat until my mom would stop responding.

But my curiosity always got the best of me, I had to know who everyone was and what they were doing. I began talking to anyone who would listen and ask them questions or tell them what I thought, even if it didn’t make sense. The only problem was I wasn’t paying attention, I was just excited to talk to new people.

It wasn’t until I was nine and I began playing lotería with my grandmother’s friends that I learned listening, instead of talking, was the best way to learn about someone. Of course, most of what they would talk about was gossip about people they knew back home, but they seemed to bring you into a different world with each story.

The way that each story was told felt like you had peered into someone’s life. Every lady at that table had a different way of telling those bits of gossip, some would make it dramatic, others would make it into a life lesson or a joke.

But my grandmother would tell the story as if she had been there, she was able to invite you into those people’s world without being immersed in it herself.

It was there, almost every weeknight from five to 8 p.m., at that table filled with coffee, pan dulce, lotería cards and loose change that I learned about

Some don’t have the luxury of choosing college over work, or college and parenting. In some Zoom classes, students can be seen caring for their children, or working retail jobs during lectures, giving others a glimpse of what duties they normally set aside to go to college.

Now, with campus reopening, students may be faced with a new learning curve: returning to campus, or coming to campus for the first time.

Students who have grown used to opening up their laptop and being in class may now have to sit in traffic to be on time. Long commutes can be a barrier to student success and degree completion if they cause students to be late to or miss classes.

Allowing students to attend classes online would ease accessibility for all students by creating less crowded classrooms and parking lots, ensuring nothing comes between student and education.

As soon as remote learning

became the norm, teachers took it upon themselves to enhance the student experience through the use of Zoom breakout rooms, online interactive media, chat groups and various other means of delivering information.

During faculty contract negotiations, professors expressed their frustration that their efforts were being underappreciated, giving examples of ways they went above and beyond to continue to deliver education online.

To tell them to abandon those efforts would be unfair. Although online teaching was a struggle for many teachers, it is a valuable tool for expanding teaching capabilities.

So many students have grown accustomed to learning online in the past year. For some, it is the only form of college education they know or are able to attend.

Keeping it as an option can only benefit student success and completion by making college more accessible for students.

CLARION Lucy Argaez editor-in-chief Justin George managing editor Skylr Scott news editor Emily Beltran Circulation Manager Staff Reporters: Natalie Castillo, Joseph Durham, Alexandra Tapia, Aaron Del Castillo-Gutierrez, Ashlee Tulk, Jesse Rivera Patrick Schmiedt Clarion adviser Stacy K. Long Clarion adviser

The Clarion is produced by journalism students and is distributed every other Wednesday during the semester.

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Editorials are the opinion of at least 75% of the Editorial Board. All other opinion is that of the writer. Views expressed do not represent those of the adviser, faculty, administration, Associated Students of Citrus College and/or CCCBOT.

Libel will not be published. The Clarion welcomes feedback from our readers.

If you have any gripes, questions, or comments... We want to hear from you!

Send your letters to ccclarion.com/letters.

All correspondence must include your student ID#, major and signature.

Letters may be edited for content.

Opinion

Tuesday, August 24, 2021 3

CLARION

Letter

Superintendent/President welcomes students back Dear Students, On behalf of our Citrus College campus community, I am delighted to welcome you to the fall 2021 semester!

Whether you are a new or returning student, there has never been a better time to attend Citrus College. By enrolling, you now have access to a substantial number of academic pathways: 65 associate degree programs (including 29 associate degrees for transfer) and 88 certificates and skill awards in career technical education programs.

Not to mention a myriad of support services that will bring you closer to achieving your academic, professional and personal dreams.

I commend you for taking this significant step and investing in your future.

I wanted to use this opportunity to share with you some information that will be of great assistance as we begin a new academic year. One of the most important things you can do is stay connected to the college through the CitrusMobile app, your

“As you prepare for on-campus or remote courses, know this: you are in the right place.”

Greg Schulz

superintendent/president Citrus College email account and the https://my.citruscollege.edu portal.

Regarding COVID-19 safety measures, it’s important to remember that all students, faculty, staff and visitors – vaccinated and unvaccinated – will be required to wear a face mask inside all buildings on campus, including classrooms and offices.

As public health guidelines continue to evolve, we will notify our community of any changes to our safety procedures.

Another helpful tool is the 20212022 Student Resource Guide, which can be found online at www.citruscollege.edu/students/ resourceguide. You are encouraged to review this guide for information

about financial aid, student services and transferring to four-year colleges and universities.

It also contains valuable resources for students in need, such as food support, housing support and mental health resources.

As you prepare for on-campus or remote courses, know this: you are in the right place.

Citrus College is a community filled with faculty, staff and fellow students who will challenge and encourage you. In the coming weeks and months, I hope you will consider connecting with your peers – even those who have different interests and experiences ... or who are online! By investing time in both your studies and your relationships, you will truly experience all Citrus College has to offer.

Once again, welcome to Citrus College, and I hope you have a terrific fall!

Sincerely, Greg Schulz, Ed.D. Superintendent/President of Citrus College

SCHULZ

Letter

ASCC president gives warm welcome to students

CALDERA

First and foremost, on behalf of the entire ASCC (Associated Students of Citrus College) Board, we’d like to welcome you all to the Fall 2021 semester here at Citrus College! We are all extremely excited to hit the ground running and continue our efforts in making positive strides in the right direction as we proudly represent both our students and faculty alike.

As your ASCC President, I speak for all the newly appointed student leaders that we are here to stay committed to you and be a voice for the voiceless.

It is our personal belief that it is vital that we continue investing and prioritizing our students by working together and brainstorming new and creative ideas that do just that.

Our vision for Citrus College is one that encompasses unity, pride, and a sense of belonging as we are all a direct representation

of not only ourselves, but also our campus and student community.

Currently one of the biggest hurdles we face is the unfortunate situation we find ourselves as we continue our battle with Covid-19 and the negative impacts that came along with it. Our priority is to ensure the safety of our students and faculty as we begin to slowly return onto campus and welcome a much-needed sense of normalcy.

Our promise to you is that we will primarily focus on further shaping the experiences our fellow students have in such a way that is meaningful with the purpose of executing Citrus College’s mission, and that is to provide excellent educational opportunities that put the needs of our students above all while simultaneously empowering them to not only meet but exceed the challenges that they may face both in their educational careers and in life.

Citrus College offers all students the opportunity to be involved with various programs, clubs, and organizations that align with a student’s personal interest that will further benefit their academic careers and in turn, their future careers, and it all starts here.

We offer many resources that can be found at my.citruscollege. edu that will further assist students accessing web portals as well as the Citrus College mobile app that is constantly active with students and announcements of different study programs and club involvement opportunities.

I look forward to serving you all this coming academic year and I can’t wait to see every single one of you as we continue our academic journey and be one step closer to accomplishing our goals and aspirations.

Sincerely, Daniel Caldera

Editorial

Vaccines on campus should be mandatory

Vaccine from Page 1

During the first two weeks of August, one student, one employee and one visitor on campus have tested positive for COVID-19. With even more students expected to return in the fall, Citrus’s safety precautions may not be enough to

prevent the spread of COVID-19.

At a July 20 board meeting, theater arts professor Cherie Brown said Citrus needs to “Step it up, let’s be a forward-thinking school and not a follower school,” calling for Citrus to require vaccinations to prevent the spread of COVID -19 on campus.

While it is understandable that many students and faculty might not be able to receive the vaccine, they should be continuously tested for COVID-19 instead.

Citrus should act now for its students to have a chance at an extra layer of protection. After the second dose of the vaccine, it takes

two weeks to build immunity.

It is crucial that those who are returning to campus are vaccinated before it is too late.

The new delta variant of the coronavirus makes the health risk of returning to campus even greater. The vaccines do not provide complete immunity to

the variant, but reduce the risk of contracting it.

The time has come for Citrus to stand up for its community, faculty, staff and students. As cases surge and colleges move forward, will Citrus stay behind?

This message was approved by 75% of the editorial board.

4 Tuesday, August 24, 2021

A long awaited return for owls

CLARION

Student ID cards available

BY JUSTIN GEORGE

MANAGING EDITOR

JGEORGE@CCCLARION.COM

The Hayden Memorial Library at Citrus College has reopened to students after over a year of closure due to COVID-19.

A video on the Hayden Memorial Library YouTube channel details the services that are available to students.

Students are required to scan the contact tracing barcode outside on the citrusmobile app before entering the building.

Study rooms can be reserved on the library’s website up to one week in advance for a maximum of two people. A Citrus photo ID is required to reserve a room.Other work spaces available include study tables and carrels, the library

art gallery and charging stations.

Computers and Wi-Fi will be available for use. To allow for social distancing, every other computer in a row will be available.

Photo ID cards will be available at the library 24 hours after students register and pay for at least one course.

Students must bring their WingSpan ID number and one other form of photo ID to get a Citrus photo ID. Students can borrow textbooks for up to two hours at a time within the library with the new reservation system Book returns will be accepted at the checkout desk and two book drops outside the library building.

Overdue fees were not charged during the campus closure.

Ne

ews

Tuesday, August 24, 2021 5

CLARION

Citrus prepares its incoming students for the fall semester return by inviting students to join them for their welcome day event on August 20.

Students were able to participate in workshops, get their ID cards and tour the campus for the first time. Citrus administration spoke to students about what to expect for the fall and offered their support. There was even a performance to get students excited about the performing arts program offered at Citrus. There were also informational booths set up for students to learn more about Citrus services.

BY JUSTIN GEORGE AND LUCY ARGAEZ

MANAGING EDITOR AND EDITOR IN CHIEF

JGEORGE @ CCCLARION.COM LARGAEZ @ CCCLARION.COM

Class pass returns

BY JUSTIN GEORGE

MANAGING EDITOR

JGEORGE@CCCLARION.COM

After being suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Citrus College is once again offering a physical bus pass to students.

A Class Pass can be obtained at the Campus Center starting Aug. 16 from 1 to 5 p.m. on Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays, and 8 a.m. to noon on Tuesdays and Fridays, a campus memo said.

The Class Pass allows Citrus College students to ride Foothill

Transit bus lines for free during the semester, and is paid for upon registration for at least one creditunit at Citrus.

Temporary passes issued digitally during the campus closure expired on the first of this month.

Students will be required to present a Citrus College student ID to receive a Class Pass. Student IDs are available at the Hayden Memorial Library. Photo ID cards will be available at the library 24 hours after students register and pay for at least one course.

6 Tuesday, August 24, 2021

Feature

CLARION

A legacy built in 13 years Before her retirement, former superintendent/president aided Citrus and its students on their path to success

BY LUCY ARGAEZ

EDITOR- IN - CHIEF

LARGAEZ@CCCLARION.COM

After 13 years of education reform, changes to campus and a focus on improving the college experience for students, the seventh superintendent president of Citrus College says goodbye.

Geraldine Perri was the first female superintendent/president at Citrus. She has 30 years of experience in higher education and she was an administrator for 20 of those years.

Perri left New York in 1996 to serve as dean of career education at Mount San Jacinto College. In 1998, she was the vice president of instruction at San Diego Mesa College. Perri has also served as president of Cuyamaca College in 2002 and became the superintendent/president of Citrus College in 2008.

Perri has won several awards: •2010 Hostos Community College “Outstanding Alumni” award •2011 YWCA San Gabriel Valley “Woman of Achievement” award •U.S. Rep. Judy Chu’s 2013 “Educator of the Year” award •Senator Anthony Portantino’s 2017 “Woman of the Year” •American Association of Community Colleges 2019 “Award of Excellence” in the student

success category Vice president of finance and administrative services Claudette Dain commended Perri for her

PERRI

long-range planning and being future focused.

“Before she came we didn’t have an organized vision of what we

wanted to do or where we wanted to go and she really brought that onto campus,” Dain said.

During her time at Citrus Perri was a part of several projects such as: •Building dedications •K-14 forums •Annual Superintendent/ President Holiday Social •Welcome and farewell receptions •Facilities master plan •2020-2030 Educational master plan •Presidents’ council •Sup er intendent/president cabinet meetings •Staff appreciation breakfasts •Managers versus supervisors battles •Several accreditation visits •I will complete college program •The measure Y and G bonds •Board of trustee meetings •Federal grant program •The creation of enhanced courses with embedded tutoring for math and English •Bringing solar energy to Citrus and electric car charging stations Executive assistant to the superintendent/president Christine Link said her favorite projects worked on with Perri were the staff appreciation breakfasts and the managers versus supervisors battles.

“You will not find a person who worked harder than Geraldine Perri.”

Claudette Dain

“At events where she could have fun and relax, I loved to get her dancing,” Link said.

Dain said that Perri had “an affinity for fun” and that she could get everyone charged up about the future of Citrus. She focused on student needs and success, which helped grow citrus programs.

“I remember one session when students were working on a rock the vote program, it was in October close to Halloween, so she and some of her administrators dressed up as zombies and danced to Michael Jackson’s Thriller in the quad to help rock the vote,” Dain said. “I thought it was so great because she has this stature as superintendent/president, and she was willing to put on the makeup and dance the dance.”

As a result of all the planning done by Perri and her ability to complete the goals she had set for Citrus graduation rates went up and she made Citrus a leader for other community colleges to follow.

Army experience helps student mature and grow

BY SKYLR SCOTT

NEWS EDITOR

SSCOT T@CCCLARION.COM

Water splashes as the grease off a plate from a previous customer lands on the arm of a 18-year-old dishwasher. He feels he has no purpose and no goal.

Noah Rodriguez was working at La Tolteca in Azusa the day he realized he did not want to be a dishwasher all his life.

This was the only future Rodriguez had — unless he grew up.

School was not an option for him at the time, either.

“The thought of having to write papers didn’t really excite me,” Rodriguez said.

This led him to join the Army.

Before joining the Army, Rodriguez said he was immature and had no goals. He said his mom subliminally instilled something in him that would push him later.

At a young age he saw his single mom work and go to school while pregnant. Witnessing his mother’s hard work and perseverance throughout her life inspired Rodriguez to be something more.

“I’ve seen my son grow from a boy to a man,” Debra Rodriguez

IMAGE COURTESY OF NOAH RODRIGUEZ.

Noah Rodriguez was part of the US. Army presence at BLM protests to back up local law enforcement on June 2, 2020

said. “I truly could not be more proud of him.”

In 2016, Noah Rodriguez put his mother’s teachings to use and gained some new ones along the way for three years as an active duty 11B infantryman, the main land combat force, in the Army.

He spent a rotation in Korea and one year at the national guard in California. He separated from the

Army in December 2020.

While he joined for immature reasons, what he learned from his time there will stick with him forever and has guided him through his journey.

“I was more, I guess, childish before I went in and then it made me a lot better today,” Noah Rodriguez said.

Rodriguez’s growth in the Army did not go unrecognized by his

mother.

“The Army literally tore him down and built him back up,” Debra Rodriguez said. “It made him more structured and (taught him) how to stand on his own. It definitely fine tuned him.”

People all around Rodriguez have seen a change in his mindset and maturity, from his time in the Army and as a father.

His girlfriend Jasmine Jimenez

said in the four years she has known him she has “seen his level of maturity grow” and since they had a child together “he has had to mature himself a lot faster than expected.”

After the Army, Rodriguez thought he would try to go back to school after gaining the discipline that was instilled in him.

He is now 23 and attends Citrus College. He wants to double major in sociology and psychology.

Psychology, social work and law enforcement intrigue him the most.

“I want to be able to help people and their families,” Rodriguez said.

His mother’s work as a judicial assistant and her collective 16 years working with the court influenced his field of study.

In the same way the Army helped Rodriguez, he said wants to help others and is already making a positive impact on people’s lives.

“He makes us feel safe, and he would do anything for his family to great extents,” Jimenez said.

Although Noah Rodriguez is young, he has learned and grown a lot and credits his experience in the Army along with his mother.

He said he thinks going to the Army before college is one of the smartest things he has ever done.

News

Tuesday, August 24, 2021 7

Bookstore considers auto billing for texts CLARION

The new system would allow course materials to be paid for with student accounts before the course begins.

BY JUSTIN GEORGE

MANAGING EDITOR

JGEORGE@CCCLARION.COM

Citrus College is planning to integrate a new billing system at the Owl Bookshop in the near future, but has not specified when faculty and students will be able to use it.

In a presentation to the Academic Senate at Citrus College in February, Public Services Librarian Sarah Bosler said faculty will have the option to use an automatic billing system for their courses when it becomes available.

Automatic billing, or inclusive access, allows colleges and universities to automatically bill students for e-books, homework systems and other digital materials upon enrollment in a course, the Open Educational Resources Initiative website said. Publishers can also offer discounts on materials for some classes through the system.

At Citrus College, charges would be made to students’ accounts shortly after the start of a course, Owl Bookshop Manager Eric Magallon said. Before the billing date, students will have the chance to opt out of the system.

He said to think of it as a “free trial” or “cutoff” period, in which students could switch or drop courses. For an automatic billing

system at Citrus to be transparent, Magallon said the “cutoff” date must be clearly published, and that faculty must remind students.

The advantages of the system, Magallon said, are that students will have the course materials they need on the first day of class, and, according to him, for a much cheaper price than elsewhere.

Students will still have the option to purchase their materials elsewhere, such as on the CitrusMobile app or Amazon, Magallon said.

On its website, the Academic Senate for California Community Colleges has expressed concerns that inclusive access does not improve the long-term issue of textbook affordability for college students, and that an opt-out or opt-in system could cause transparency issues.

Bosler, who is the Academic Senate open educational resources liaison for Citrus College, said in an email that she hopes course sections offering zero-cost texts and open educational resources will be clearly marked in bookstore listings.

The ASCCC Open Educational Resources initiative aims to reduce the cost of textbooks and learning materials for students through the use of “teaching and learning

CLARION ARCHIVE

materials that are freely available online for everyone to use,” in the form of modules, lectures, simulations and other digital media.A problem that inclusive access may cause, the website said, is that a student who fails to opt-out can be hit with unexpected costs, and eventually lose access to the materials.

The integration of inclusive access at Citrus College will have to wait for a while, Magallon said, likely until 2022.

“The bookstore is almost completed with system changes” to its new bookstore interface, Magallon said in an email. “The problem is that Inclusive access, if the district decides to embrace the

idea, will have to be handled by the new vendor that will take over the running of the bookstore at the end of the year,” which the district will choose from a request for proposal sent July 27.

He said the bookstore will likely be run by an outside company that is separate from the other campus retail services.

Citrus prepares for accreditation visit

BY SKYLR SCOTT

NEWS EDITOR

SSCOT T@CCCLARION.COM

Every six years, colleges that partner with the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges must be evaluated.

This year, Citrus College is due for an evaluation.

The evaluation in 2016 led the commision to reaffirm the accreditation for 18 months and require a follow-up report in 2017 to ensure standards, policies, and procedures were met.

The 2015 Visiting Team Evaluation Report said “with several exceptions it is at the level of proficiency in the assessment of student learning outcomes and perhaps on the verge of sustainable continuous quality improvement in the assessment of course, program, and certificate outcomes.”

The follow-up implied that Citrus College was in need of improvement.

A recommendation the evaluation made was for Citrus to include information regarding complaint procedures and sexual harassment in its print and electronic catalog.

Under “Environmental Health

CLARION ARCHIVE

and Safety,” Citrus has a brief message pertaining to their intolerance of sexual harassment.

The commission is concerned with the honesty of the report. The commision report said they want the college to approach its next report to the commision in a way

“that provides for broader college input, more careful attention to presenting the factual evidence of the College’s performance with respect to standards, and more careful review of the report before finalizing it.”

Another concern was the low

standards of the college. The commission’s recommendation was for the institution-set standards to be set to a more rigorous level.

In comparison to the 2009 evaluation, which had six comments with 20 citations, the 2015 evaluation had two

recommendations with six citations.

Since the 2016 evaluation, many things have changed. Citrus added 15 Associate Degrees and one certificate program to its Distant Education program in 2015, Biotechnology and Biomanufacturing programs in 2018, and 19 more programs in 2019.

Vice President of Academic Affairs Joumana McGowan said Citrus’s goal is to “get accredited without any recommendations or any additional visits” and that “We have been and continue to be in good standing with Accreditation.”

In preparation for the visit, the college has been selected “to participate and partner with ACCJC in implementing a PILOT-For mative/Summative Accreditation Review process.” said McGowan.

She said Citrus is one of three colleges to be selected in this process.

This new initiative is ACCJC’s way of collecting data and feedback to share with the college in hopes that they can better improve based on their continuous recommendations, the ACCJC’s website said.

8 Tuesday, August 24, 2021

News

CLARION

Enrollment numbers drop

BY SKYLR SCOTT

NEWS EDITOR

SSCOT T@CCCLARION.COM

Citrus College has experienced a 9.3% decrease in enrollment this fall semester compared to last fall. This is not unique to Citrus as many colleges are experiencing low enrollment.

Whether it is COVID-19 related, due to financial reasons, or an unwillingness to go to college, last fall, 8,477 full-time equivalent students enrolled at Citrus. As of the end of July, only 7,685 full-time equivalent students are registered, Dean of Enrollment Services Gerald Sequeira said.

Sequeira said he believes this could be due to the change in enrollment dates, because students are still registering for courses and the enrollment numbers aren’t as accurate. Last fall, registration was July 6 and this fall it was in May. Although the amount of full-time equivalent students has decreased, non-credit students have increased 37%. This year, Citrus has 97 noncredit students in comparison to last year’s 71 non-credit students, Sequeria said in an email.

Citrus also has a 14% decrease in resident students along with a severe decrease in non-resident students, Sequeira said in an email.

“LA County was hard hit and that’s where most of our students come from,” Sequeira said.

He also said many non-resident students were international students who faced travel restrictions due to COVID-19, making their return to school more challenging.

Leader from Page 1

Q:What are goals that you have for the college?

A: We have something big going on this fall, and that is our site visit for our accreditation. We are accredited by the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges. That is something I am looking forward to and will fully support to ensure a successful site visit. I will also work in partnership with the college and the board of trustees to facilitate a safe and timely return to campus with a north star on safety.

Q: What are you excited to bring to Citrus?

A: Being a student-centered, engaged president is what I bring and what brings me joy. I think those things have been there, but it is definitely what I bring.

Q: What are some things you would like the students at Citrus to know about you?

A: Don’t be surprised if you see me on the field throwing out the first pitch. This will happen as I get to know our women’s and men’s teams and coaches and support our scholar-athletes as I have in the past. If I am asked, I am willing to participate firsthand because it is fun. It hopefully shows our scholar athletes and our coaches that what they do matters. I care, I enjoy it, and this is not limited to sports. I also love music and fine arts.

Q: If you could say something to the students at Citrus, what would it be?

A: Thank you for choosing Citrus College. It is a privilege to serve you and I look forward to meeting you.

ILLUSTRATION BY KARA ELDER-CLARION ARCHIVE

An initiative being taken to encourage students to return to school are the CARES Emergency Financial Aid Grants.

The Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act of 2021, or CRRSAA, provided Citrus College $14.6 million, of which at least $3.7 million is allocated to assist students eligible to participate in a degree or certificate program under the Higher Education Act of 1965.

Institutions that have faced loss of revenue or are in need of

reimbursement are allocated $10.9 million as well which Citrus was granted.

Sequeira said smaller steps have been taken to enhance enrollment including free parking on campus this upcoming semester, a significant amount of emergency funds, technology grants and grocery gift cards.

“The biggest initiative that’s easiest to see is that we are returning to campus,” Sequeira said.

A student services committee is working on proposals and activities

to get students back on campus.

Sequiera said some courses have seen a more significant drop than others due to their inability to be done online as it is a more handson class.

Sequeira said other than COVID-19, the decrease in enrollment is also related to the improving economy. He said when the economy tends to do well and businesses thrive, some people choose to work instead of going to school.

Overall, Sequeira said he is “very

concerned with enrollment, this is our revenue.” Citrus relies on enrollment as 70% of it is based on enrollment figures.He said low enrollment “is a statewide phenomenon.”

Sequeira said he is also concerned about the new delta variant because cases may continue to rise as the semester begins and he is also worried about students’ mental health with the many pressures and uncertain circumstances pertaining to school, COVID-19 and their future.

Board of trustees appoints new superintendent/president

BY JUSTIN GEORGE

MANAGING EDITOR

JGEORGE@CCCLARION.COM

The Citrus College Board of Trustees has appointed Greg Schulz as the next superintendent/ president of Citrus College. The board voted unanimously Tuesday June 15 at its regular meeting.

Schulz is currently president of Fullerton College and was among three finalists selected by the superintendent/president search committee. He participated in the finalist public forums on May 25.

“I love the work that we do,” Schulz said at his forum about his time at Fullerton College. “It brings me joy to serve in the community colleges and to lead an institution of higher education.”

Current Superintendent/ President Geraldine M. Perri announced in December that she will retire in July after 13 years of service. She is the seventh superintendent/president of Citrus College. The Board of Trustees recognized Perri at its Tuesday meeting.

“She’s always led by putting students first, and her emphasis on student success and completion has made a difference in the lives of many students,” Board of Trustees Clerk/Secretary Laura Bollinger said.

LUCY ARGAEZ-CLARION