with pride

are going to help show the way,” Fields shared. “Because as we've seen from all of our data, we've seen a huge increase in the number of people who are not associated with any one specific gender.”

Fields notes that Pierce has made progressive and inclusive changes on Canvas but the nonbinary community is always evolving just as gender expression is always evolving.

“It used to just be she/her, he/ him, they/them which was a great step forward,” Fields explained. “But now we're actually looking at those that are maybe blending pronouns. So, he/they, she/they, and he/she.”

In honor of Pierce College’s 75th Anniversary, students who sign up will receive a free graduation package, including a cap and gown, a yard sign and a commemorative license plate frame.

Cifra said students graduating this June are encouraged to sign up early.

“It is also our incentive for them to apply earlier, because we want to know who they are ahead of time,” Cifra said.

Enrollment numbers increased

Since late start classes started on Monday, headcount is 112% compared to the district at 110%. Vice President of Academic Affairs Mary Jo Apigo reported that enrollment is at 118%, far above the district wide average. Apigo was cautiously optimistic about the growing rates and hinted that there is still a long way to go in terms of getting back to 2017 enrollment rates.

“The sobering news is that when we compare the 2017 numbers, headcount is down 21% and enrollment is down 23%,” Apigo said. “So our numbers were great compared to last year and there's still some work to do as we try to recover back to the 2017 numbers.”

The next Academic Senate meeting will be held at the Faculty and Staff Center Monday, April 24 at 2:15 p.m..

Graduation

marks a huge milestone in a student’s life, and Pierce College might have a way to make the LGBTQIA community feel more represented.

During the Academic Senate meeting on Monday, Vice President of Student Services

Jason Cifra announced that students graduating in June will receive a commemorative license plate frame with the word alumnus or alumni.

Professor of astronomy Dale Fields mentioned that it might be a good idea to have the frames

“We have students from all over and we need to actually be more responsive in recognizing everyone's individual identity,” Fields said.

Cifra said that the order of license plate frames has not been officially submitted so there still may be time to make the edit in time for this year’s graduation.

As the campus representative to the Chancellor’s Advisory Committee and LGBTQIA affairs, Fields said that changing the frame would make non-binary students who are not out to their family and friends feel a part of without risking their privacy.

“I think it's both a protection for our students that aren't out, but also a great benefit for those that do want to see something that doesn't force them to the current cultural straightjacket,” Fields said.

Fields believes that there are many ways that gender can be removed in communications where it is not absolutely necessary.

From helping students to display their authentic names and pronouns to appear in Canvas to providing more gender-neutral restrooms, Fields thinks Pierce can always do better. And Fields encourages students to use their voices and get involved

“I really hope that our students