The guiding light Guided Pathways aids students journeys

“In some classes I might have 20 adds and I have 15 add slips. With add codes, I have like 50 of them and it’s all on my computer.”

Marmolejo mentioned that the add slips have always only been issued by instructors and that the instructor might say to come back in a few days and when students finally get that add slip they are waiting in line to get processed.

Student Marina Sanchez recalled how it was a challenge to even obtain an add slip during the first two weeks of the semester.

“I was waiting in line with 50 people just to get an add slip,” Sanchez said. “You only had a slight chance of being able to receive the add slip.” cwestman.roundupnews@gmail.com

Marmolejo said switching to the new system has caused a few issues along the way.

“The first two semesters it would crash for a few hours while the students were trying to add classes so that increased anxiety for a lot of students,” Marmolejo said.

This is the third semester Pierce has been using permission codes, and Marmolejo said the new system is coming a long way.

“It makes it easier for students to not only add classes here at Pierce, but other colleges within our district so we are really trying to be as student friendly as possible,” Marmolejo said.

According to Marmolejo, California State University Northridge is another institution, which uses PeopleSoft and permission codes.

Students are able to consult with the Admissions and Records office for any help with their permission codes.

ARIELLE ZOLEZZI News Editor @ArielleZolezzi

Since the Guided Pathways initiative has been set in motion at Pierce College, students have been receiving dozens of resources provided by Raffi Kahwajian and his band of tutors and counselors.

But there are still a lot of students that don’t know what is available for them.

Guided Pathways is a districtwide initiative that helps students in the community college system who have spent an excess amount of years achieving their associate degree, transfer degree or certificate.

Kahwajian said the initiative was not due to grades that students were receiving, but the fact that there weren’t as many completions of degrees and certificates once starting the path toward these goals. Guided Pathways helps make the road to these outcomes simpler for students who are confused about what the next step.

“The Guided Pathways initiative is looking to improve the current model by providing clear course sequences and helping students choose and