Sixteen-Week Academic Calender Looms in the Distance for Students
Total Page：16
File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb
CERRITOS COLLEGE WWW.TALONMARKS.COM WEDNESDAY, MARCH 29, 2017 VOLUME 61, NO. 17 FIRST ISSUE FREE, ADDITIONAL COPIES $1 Disadvantages: 1. The greatest disadvantage of adopting a compressed calendar is cost. 2. Another concern is that those students who benefit from a longer semester will have poorer success and retention. This report’s analysis of success and reten- tion, however, provides evidence that, as a whole, stu- dent success and retention is not harmed by course compression. 3. Some programs will need to alter how lectures, labo- ratories, and practicums are scheduled. Nursing and Cosmetology are examples of programs that will be affected in this way. However, every college in our region has been able to adapt successfully. Cerritos College should be able to, as well. Advantages: 1. The major on-going expense of the compressed cal- endar arises from the need to reinstitute the Weekend College, something the 2009 Report did not need to consider. However, the Weekend College would serve Perla Lara/TM Photo illustration of a possible 16 week acaemic calendar and greatly benefit a significant, non-traditional stu- dent population. 2. By including a winter intercession, the college can Sixteen-week academic calender utilize facilities more efficiently. It will relieve some of the pressure for classroom space during the primary (fall/spring) sessions. 3. The addition of the winter intercession provides looms in the distance for students more flexibility for student schedules. 4. A winter intercession also provides an opportunity Monique Nethington The board will hear the proposal about the idea. the additional cost for the school. Editor -in- Chief again at the next meeting on April 5 If the board were to approve the If the board did approve the cal- for students to make up ground if they fall behind in @sniqueee94 to better understand the plan before new calendar it has the possibility endar it will then move forward to the fall. pushing it forward to the chancel- of bringing weekend classes, pro- the district for final consideration 5. The compressed calendar aligns with most four-year Students, staff and faculty may lor’s office. viding a winter session and adding and would not be put into place un- soon find a change to their academ- institutions, providing an easier transition for Cer- According to Lewellen there has flexibility to students schedules. til the July 2018. ic calender. ritos College students to transfer institution. been talk for close to two decades It will also align the calendar The Cerritos College Board of 6. The compressed calendar also aligns with K-12 dis- about switching from the tradi- with those of most four-year insti- Trustees tentatively adopted the Scan to view the full 2015 ad hoc trict, and that alignment eases challenges some stu- tional 18-week calendar the school tutions, Cal State institutions and compressed calendar proposal committee report dents face with providing childcare. March 1 after hearing the academ- currently has in place to a 16-week. UC institutions not on the quarter ic benefits of said calendar from She stated that the reason it has system. 7. The Weekend College student support services (such Faculty Senate President Michelle taken so long for the proposal to be The calendar also will align with as increased Library hours) benefit all Cerritos Col- Lewellen. heard was because no school presi- K-12 school district and will allow lege Students. In the original report given to dent has had any interest in the idea students who face challenges find- 8. The ASCC overwhelmingly supports the compressed the board from the 2015 ad hoc until President Jose Fierro. ing childcare. calendar. committee the advantages and dis- She said he, “was neither for or The main concern from the http://bit.ly/2ntlp5Y advantages were clearly outlined. against it but open to hearing more,” committee and from the board was Source: 2015 ad hoc committee report via cerritos.edu Forum: Student Trustee candidates Jenny Gonzalez tance of going to the bookstore and cause they have concerns too,” after News Editor Student Center with students and the forum. @jennnnay44 remember who she was before, if Her target is to make her pres- she gains the Student Trustee posi- ence known and communicate ef- The Student Trustee Forum tion. fectively with students, clubs and hosted by Talon Marks lacked After the forum, Estrada said programs on campus. She feels that student attendance and audience she would target safety and pushing even though she can’t be there for engagement with less than 20 stu- the winter session availability. She every student, she is going to try her dents. also mentions “disability, eligibil- hardest to advocate for them. The candidates are as follows: ity for scholarships, classes (STEM Escandon said, “When I first Joseph Escandon, Melanie Walters, departments)” and would, “execute started ASCC government, I started Raul Avalos and Marlene Estrada. these ideas by working closely with off as a Court member and it kind The forum was held on Tuesday the current Student Trustee Karen and lasted approximately 30 min- Patron to see what plans have been of branched off into wanting to do utes. set in motion in order to do these more for the students [...] I just real- Avalos targeted scholarships, things.” ly wanted to get involved. I want to safety and sustainability. He wants She emphasizes the importance find solutions for our student gov- to create scholarships for students of student engagement and if the ernment with the Board of Trustees with a GPA of 2.0 and 3.0 and un- students see a canopy or forum, she and [have] more platforms for stu- der, so students that have that GPA advises them to see what is going on dents to come and voice their issues do not feel underrepresented. and to inform themselves. She adds [and] concerns.” He also wants to work with the that successful events on campus He wants to target the those that Board of Trustee members to create are based off student participation. only take online courses because he a safer campus for the students. Walters said, “I would have believes they aren’t focused on as He mentions sustainability and two options: I would find a mid- much as students who attend class- adding more hydration systems on dle ground between my ideals and es on campus. He says he will con- campus to “reduce the carbon diox- whoever [...] is in conflict with me tinue to fight and increase student ide in our air.” and [...] talk to those who aren’t [...] awareness and attendance, and will After the forum, Avalos said, and ask them ‘Hey, is there some- still be a part of Project Outreach. “[Some items] that I do want to fo- thing that just seems wrong or is Co-campaign manager for cus on the most [are] scholarships this not the best idea?’ My second Avalos, Kishan Lalla said, “All the and safety. Once I can accomplish option would be to take time on my candidates who talked today are that for us [...] then I’ll go ahead part and say “Hey, maybe I have to and focus on sustainability.” think this over. Maybe this isn’t the very well qualified for the job. [...] Marlene Estrada said she would right thing to do.” It would be interesting to see what use technology and social media to Walters added, “My platform is happens on election day, when it communicate with the students and that I am an advocate for the con- comes down to just talking to stu- their concerns and use social me- cerns of students, not only for them dents and how they approach stu- dia to keep the students updated at but also for myself because I am dents. I’m obviously confident that Board of Trustee meetings. also a student [...] and [I] also want Raul has a stronger position, but From left to right ASCC presidential candidate Karen Patron, Vice-President candidate David Ramirez, Student Board of Trustees She also emphasized the impor- to advocate for staff members be- we’ll have to see with the results.” candidates Melanie Walters, Raul Avalos, Joseph Escandon and Marlene Estrada. News 2 Wednesday, March 29, 2017 • www.talonmarks.com Court sides in favor of ASCC VP Rodgriguez David Jenkins 1) a screenshot of the agenda They can speak up if they feel Staff Writer item from her cell phone. something is wrong or would like @Mr_Sniknej 2) a screenshot of emails also improvement in some areas. from her cell phone. Chief Justice Rodrigo Quintas, The Writ of Mandamus request- 3) a statement from former sen- is glad that all of this is over. He too ed for ASCC Vice President Enrique ator Victor Villalobos. saw that the evidence that was pre- Rodriguez by Senator Pro Tempore With these pieces of evidence, sented did not hold up to the claims Gurpreet Ubbu during the March Senator Ubbu stated that Rodriguez that were being made. 1 senate meeting was rejected by was not doing his job sufficiently ASCC Court on March, 21. “I would have preferred if both well. The court made this decision by sides would’ve come prepared with However the evidence did not proving that the evidence brought factual evidence, more concrete hold up in court. forth by Ubbu was insufficient. witnesses. The lack of evidence, and Senator Ubbu said, “I was ini- Court Judge Dennis Garcia said, the type of evidence [presented] tially disappointed; I’m not taking “It look like there was no strong just goes to show the lack of prepa- any of this personal because this is case against the current VP.