Have a Sip of coffee Professor has co ee hours for students

Samantha Bradford Roundup Reporter

Rather than collect dust in the faculty offices behind the mail room, one professor has chosen to take his office hours to the public by sharing coffee and conversation with students.

Usually garnering the attention of a small group, anyone is welcome to discuss numerous topics with Professor Joe Perret, every Monday morning at 8 a.m. in front of the Freudian Sip, for casual conversation.

The group covered a broad range of topics. Subjects discussed encompassed people with handicap disabilities, the events taking place in Ukraine, healthcare and the assignments going on in Perret’s classes.

Perret has been hosting this event for four years now. He is a professor of Computer Applications-Business Communications at Pierce College.

“I really like getting to know my students,” said Perret.

The hour he takes out of his day each week helps him to understand his students on another level. This has had a positive effect when in the classroom.

This activity Perret participates in eliminates communication problems and opens the door for his students to feel free to talk to him at any time. Being accessible to them gives Perret insight on his students needs.

“Because they connect with me, there is more of a tendency for them to communicate earlier on,” Perret said.

Another attendee this past Monday, was Perret’s student from his Internet of Business class, Linda Ressegieu.

The open environment takes the edge off of students and allows them to open up and speak about numerous topics.

On Monday, March 3, a student named Michael Gilliland joined Perret. Gilliland is not a student of Perret’s, but he happened to see his sign in front of the Sip and decided to join him for coffee.

“Never have I ever heard of a professor just sitting out and having coffee with students,” Gilliland said. “I like the idea of casual conversation, because that’s when people learn the most.”

After being able to attend Monday’s “Coffee with the Professor,” Ressegieu shared how she feels about it.

“I think this is going to open [our class] up and it shows that he really wants to mingle with us,” Ressegieu said.

None of her other teachers have given her an opportunity like this.

Persistence is key. Although not every session is successful, Perret continues to sit out every Monday morning to give his opportunity to all students. All students are welcome to have a cup of joe next Monday, March 10 at 8 a.m.

The Topanga Vintage Market offers live music, food from various food trucks in the Los Angeles area, and over more than vendors selling vintage collectibles and antiques at Pierce College on March, 23.

Co-founder Patrice Curedale expressed her gratitude to Pierce for hosting the event on campus since the market had become too large for it’s previous venue.

“Right from the start we were trying to create a fundraiser,” Curedale said. “With Pierce as our venue, we were able to give our funds back to the community instead of a shopping center.”

The market donates its earnings to The Foundation Program at Pierce, which develops resources and increases public awareness to support the students, educational programs