Students missing out on outdoor study space

Opening of Library / Learning Crossroads patio area hits multiple delays, winter or spring planned

EZZAT WANAS Reporter @EzzatWanas

Group studying and projects are supposed to be full of lively conversations, but this is something that can’t be done in the quiet library.

The college has found a solution for this, but plans have been delayed.

During the winter or spring semester, a patio space will open at the Library/Learning Crossroads that will allow students to eat, drink and talk freely outside of a quiet zone.

While the patio was expected to open last semester after spring break, the design of the space has raised concerns about library resources, student accessibility and safety.

Inside the library, students have access to group study rooms, study carrels and lounge areas furnished with couches. The patio space offers students a chance to bring the academic atmosphere of the library outside.

“It is supposed to be a space where the students can go outdoors study, have food and drink,” said Lauren Saslow, library department chair.

The patio space, which is located behind Computer Lab B, is currently unavailable for student.

According to Saslow, a gate in the patio area was intended to prevent students from exiting through the back entrance. She said the purpose of the gate was to buzz if students took a book outside of the library’s perimeter. The only side of the library that doesn’t have a security gate is the patio Saslow said.

However, once the security gate was put in, another delay presented itself regarding the patio’s compliance with the American with Disability Act (ADA).

“The doors weren’t opening wide enough and that is required by the law,” Saslow said. “Whether it looks like something that is easy to be fixed, in fact it is not easy because we are still under warranty with the original building, it takes about two years to get fixed.”

Although the space has now fixed the problem, library safety is a concern.

“There are stairs that go down to Parking Lot 7, and it shouldn’t be an exit,” Saslow said. “Anyone can

[GUIDED PATHWAYS

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Elizabeth Strother, the student services guided pathways coordinator, said the mapper will help satisfy the goals set under the pillars of Guided Pathways.

“The purpose of that is to help students know what they need to do to reach the goal that they want,” Strother said. “A big function of that is counseling, although with Guided Pathways we really want the whole campus community to be involved the whole step of the way.”

Guided Pathways requires a campus-wide effort in order to be successful.

Vice President of Academic Affairs Sheri Berger said Guided Pathways has been an ongoing discussion since last year.

“This will take time, it’s not going to happen overnight,” Berger said. “We have three different priorities we are working on at the same time.”

According to Berger, there was a short window, giving the Academic Senate just until Oct. 8 to come to a solid decision.

Adrian Youhanna, the career and technical education guided pathways coordinator, said the mapper pilot will help organize a student’s educational route.

“It ties in perfectly with Guided Pathways because it will allow students to graphically visualize the path for their selected program,” Youhanna said. “It’s designed to show semester by semester what the student needs to take in order to successfully complete the path.” by: Danielle Padilla

The Los Angeles Community College District was accepted into the mapper pilot program on Oct. 9.

According to Berger, five of the nine colleges are starting the program next week, and four are starting in February.

“I think that it will help students maybe be on a better path, so that we’re not having students transferring with over 100 units,” Berger said.

Guided Pathways aims to synthesize the amount of hidden prerequisites students have to take on their educational path, Belden said.

“One of the pieces we are trying to do this year is clear out some of those hidden prerequisites,” Belden said.

• Suspicious Person

A male was caught hiding between two buildings at Parking Lot 6 and was escorted off campus.

10/8

•Ill Student Paramedics transferred an ill student to the hospital from their class.

10/8

•Suspicious Person come up and it could be a way that someone sneaks into the library, it is dangerous especially at night.”

If students start to use the patio space as an exit, the door leading to the parking lot will remain open and unmonitored.

“By the end of this month we are going to have a meeting with the sheriff and other people to assist the security risk before we open it up,” Saslow said.

[for the full story visit theroundupnews.com]

These are classes that class that already has a prerequisite has another requisite inside of it.

Strother said there are a lot of goals to be met under the second phase of implementation.

“The first thing we want to do is we want to make sure we have programs established that can get students where they want to go,” Strother said. “We want to make sure that we clarify the path so it’s easy to understand. I want to make sure we’re very good at making paths that can lead to a variety of different scenarios.”

Yohanna said it is critical that staff and students hop on board with understanding what Guided Pathways has to offer.

“Guided Pathways will require the participation of everybody on campus,” Youhanna said. “Not only faculty, but staff as well as students.”

Belden said there will be student focus groups created to help spread awareness about the progression and benefits of Guided Pathways.

“We are also planning on using the focus groups as a way to potentially cultivate an interest in student participation,” Belden said. “We have a goal of doing at least five or six focus groups with between 10 and 20 students so that we can really get a wide arrange of student input.”

According to Youhannao, so far there are 33 people already part of the Oversight Committee formed to help move Guided Pathways forward.

“One of things that we really want to do well is communicate information,” Youhanna said. “The other thing we want to work on is either a monthly newsletter or something where information is being disseminated to the campus community. One of the most important contributors are going to be students.”

Strother said a student voice is essential for Guided Pathways to successfully move forward.

“It’s not just an administrative role, it’s everyone,” Strother said. “We really want students to have a voice because students know better than everybody what they need and what’s working and what isn’t working. If we don’t have that voice, we might impose a system that doesn't work for our students at all.”

A male was cursing loudly in the North Gym bathroom and was escorted off campus.

10/8

•Disturbance

A male student was cursing at the deputy and officers in the Sheriff's station.

10/08

•Trespassing

An intoxicated male near the Juniper building was escorted off campus.

10/11

•Suspicious Person

A male was reported urinating in the bushes at Parking Lot 7.

10/11

•Student Injury

Paramedics were called after a student fell near the Elm building.

10/11

•Student Injury

Paramedics were called after a student cut their finger in an auto shop class.

10/12

•Hit and Run Sheriff brought a student back to campus after a hit and run.

10/13

•Trespassing

A male was found sleeping near the Horticulture building.

Pierce College Sheriff’s Station General Information: Emergency: (818) 710 - 4311