Enrollment dips

Enrollment at Pierce College continues to decline, following a downward trend across the Los Angeles Community College District, which dropped 9 percent in enrollment this year.

Enrollment is down 6 percent this semester, a larger drop than the 2016-2017 academic year which had a 2 percent decrease, resulting in a loss of more than 1,500 students.

The trend seems to correlate with the strength of California’s economy. When jobs are available, the returning and non-traditional student population tends to slightly drop, said Enrollment Management Committee (EMC) Co-chair Sunday Salter.

“The economy is doing better now than it was a few years ago,” instructor of Psychology Angela Belden said. “People tend to go back to school when they cannot find jobs. If the economy is good and folks have jobs, they don’t come to college.”

The population downturn affecting Pierce can stem from the surrounding local high schools.

“There are a fewer number of people who are graduating from high school, because there are a fewer number of high-school aged people,” Belden said. There will be no financial impact this academic year or the next. However the effects for the fall 2019/spring 2020 academic year is unknown.

The 1 percent decline in enrollment has affected students and faculty and has caused some low-impacted sections of classes to be cancelled, according to Vice President of Academic Affairs Sheri Berger, and, if the trend continues, it could lead to more cuts.

“A drop in enrollment can lead to section closures in the first week of classes,” Salter said.

“This is, of course, something that the Pierce administration seeks to avoid because it can negatively impact our students and faculty.”

The EMC and the Budget Committee is addressing these issues in meetings.

“We are collaborating with local high schools to continue to spread the word about the wonderful programs and environment that we have to offer here at Pierce,” Salter said.

One collaboration is the Los Angeles College Promise that provides one year of free enrollment to any LACCD college to all full-time qualifying students graduating from the Los Angeles Unified School District and charter high schools.

“Since last year, we have been looking at different strategic marketing plans for Pierce to get more students enrolled,” Berger said. “We don't want to lose enrollment for next year, we are trying to build it back.” jbelcher.roundupnews@gmail.com you’re in there with people who have the same passion for it as you,” Kiely said. “Kraemer is an amazing professor who is so thrilled to be teaching what she loves and hearing what we think.” Kraemer loves the subject matter, but also understands that the goal is to teach her students and give them the tools that they need to be successful in the future. Student expectations are consistent with those of other 200-level classes, in which students must have an understanding of concepts in English 101 and English 102 and expect a heavier workload than lower-level classes.

Kraemer’s class is expected to read 150 pages per week, prepare ideas for online and in-class discussions, and do in-class and at-home essays. The class is UC and CSU transferrable.

“I do feel that it is my duty that these students go to their transfer universities with their t’s crossed and their i’s dotted,” Kraemer said.

While the work is enjoyable, Kiely states that the difficulty lies in the reading expectations.

“I’d say it's definitely more difficult than a 101 course based on how much reading there is, and that we’re reading fulllength novels, not just articles or pieces of literature,” Kiely said. “There is a lot of page count to get through.”

Drescher said that that getting lost in the work suits him best because he loses track of the difficulty due to the intrigue of the course.

“I wouldn’t say it’s difficult, but if it was difficult, I don’t think that I’d notice,” Drescher said. “This is what I am interested in. I live, eat, and breathe science fiction.” mluissi.roundupnews@gmail.com

The faculty change brings about a new perspective and teaching style, English Department Chair Donna Accardo said. Pierce College takes pride in the diversity of its professors, she added.

“As the chair, I can say that we are very proud of this amazing faculty,” Accardo said.

The class meets Tuesdays and Thursdays, 9:35 a.m. to 11 a.m. in Juniper 0820.

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