3 minute read
Editorial: Plan of action is essential
I am a Pierce Student, but did not get any of my classes this fall, now what?
It is no surprise that many students were not able to enroll or add some, if not all of the classes that they anticipated on taking this semester.
This leaves the students at a stand-still as it relates to moving forward with their educational goals.
Currently the counseling department has more than 40 workshops that are scheduled to take place this month and October.
These workshops can be found in the “Fall 2011 Student Success Workshop Brochure.”
The topics of these workshops range from “Applying to a CSU” to “Internship 101.”
Although these resources might be useful to the student who has matriculated through Pierce, such services are useless to the student who has no options, as it relates to enrolling into any classes this semester.
What students need is a plan of action, either they will be able to pursue their education at Pierce, or not.
It’s that simple.
On Aug. 23, Joy McCaslin, vice president of student services, sent out a mass email to Pierce students that acknowledged “how difficult it is for you to get your class this semester.”
Blah blah blah.
The letter also included that “it’s a statewide problem caused by a lack of funding.”
Blah blah.
Not once in the email did she suggest what a student should do if they are not able to enroll into their classes.
However, she did mention that “on the brighter side, there are various financial aid programs available” to assist with the increase to $36 per unit.
What a joke.
Four days later, a mass email was sent out to Pierce students titled “Important Parking Tips for the Fall 2011 Semester.”
This email offered detailed suggestions for students who drive and will be parking on campus.
It’s interesting that the college can suggest tips for parking, but none for not getting classes.
These are times when professors are begging students to drop their courses and, or being penalized for adding students against the college’s will.
Somewhere the best interest of the student has become distorted.
The Pierce College Admissions and Records and Counseling departments should partner together and host a town hall meeting explaining to students what their options are, and how to continue their educational goals during this time when the state is witnessing a major budget crisis. '
Such a meeting will allow students to make more informed decision about their education.
