ACADEMIC SENATE BRIEF Enrollment down Pierce and LACCD see significant decreases

BY SHAE HAMMOND

Academic Senate members discussed a proposal against systemic racism. Resolutions listed in the proposal are intended to create a safe and inclusive learning environment at Pierce College.

“Pierce has been a hostile campus towards African Americans for a long period of time, I have received hostility as a faculty,” said Professor of Sociology, James Mckeever.

While the proposal states, “That faculty in all disciplines develop inclusive and anti-racist curriculum,” members from the Administration of Justice department felt singled out in the process of reform because of the request that, “an emphasis be placed on first-responders disciplines, such as Administration of Justice.”

Denise Robb, a Political Science Professor speaking on behalf of the Administration of Justice Department said, “They feel very singled out, they believe there should be more than their department highlighted. They feel sort of that they are being punished, they would fully support it if it was inclusive of other departments.”

Members of the Academic Senate were asked to further review the proposal for the next meeting on Sept. 28, when the proposal is up for approval.

“AJ faculty in no way endorses the actions of some of these officers who have been at the forefront of the issues we’re facing,” said Kim Rich professor of Administration of Justice, “We acknowledge that changes must be made and are willing to do so.”

BY SHEHREEN KARIM

Pierce College’s current 10% deficit in enrollment compared to last year would normally raise the loudest alarms across the district.

But the numbers are looking good compared to more than half of the LACCD schools, in particular LA Southwest College, with currently reports 72% enrollment this fall.

The exact reason for this drop is unclear.

But some professors and administrators think the main problems lie in the challenges brought by working from home and the inability for departments that rely heavily on hands-on learning to simulate those experiences in the virtual classroom.

The enrollment decline is particularly bad in arts classes.

Michael Gend, the chair of the Performing Arts department, said two dance classes were cancelled because they only had two or three students enroll, which falls below the minimum requirement.

Gend added that inadequate space to rehearse plays for theater and play instruments for music has stopped students from enrolling.

“To act, you have to be very loud and physical with your body for these classroom assignments,” Gend said. “I imagine those students looking around in their homes and thinking that they can’t make noise in the way that other students can in their homes.”

This trend in reduced enrollment is also seen in the Math Department according Eddie Tchertchian ,the chair of the Math department.

Tchertchian says that the Math department has seen a 5% decrease in enrollment and explains that one factor could be students dealing with math anxiety. When students take math classes online, students may feel lost without interacting with the instructor directly.

As a solution for the Math department’s decline in enrollment, Tchertchain explains how the district Math department decided to hold all math sections synchronous except those who were already online pre COVID-19.

Tchertchian said that the synchronous math sections help students communicate directly to their instructor which may boost enrollment numbers.

To increase enrollment for departments that rely on hands-on learning, Gend proposed that Pierce College provides a space on campus for students who do not have the appropriate space at home to complete their courses.

By dedicating a workspace on Pierce for students, Gend says this will boost enrollment because this will allow students to not worry about distractions at home