Board Of Trustees Approves Student Task Force Recommendations

            The Board of Trustees supported the statewide Student Success Task Force Recommendations with Alexander Soto, student trustee, voting in favor of the recommendations. The vote was six yes and one abstention.

            The one abstention came from Board Member William E. Thompson, who did not feel comfortable voting to support the recommendations.

            "I do not feel very comfortable voting on this because there were a lot of issues that were raised and we can't do anything to resolve them," said Thompson.

            The Student Success Task force recommendations would change the face of the PCC and all other community colleges in California. The top priority for registration will now go to students with a specific goal: a degree, transfer, remedial help, and career training, and classes that do not lead to an established goal may be cut.

             Board of Trustees member, Jeanette Mann was the only public member of the statewide task force. 

            According to Mann, the conclusion is that everyone entering the college should be lead to success.

            "The task force recognized that the commitment community colleges [have] made to access has in many ways been shallow and not lead to success," said Dr. Jeanette Mann.

            Some of the issues raised in opposition were students deciding their majors to too quickly and inaccurately, and the labor market demand.

            Simon Fraser, chief justice for The Associated Students, described the recommendations as a "robust document the Associated Students wholeheartedly embraces."

            Fraser also said students who change their goals should continue to receive fee waivers. He was also concerned that students should not hastily make a decision.

            On the topic of choosing a major too hastily, President Mark Rocha said: "The clear thrust of the program is not that you have to make up your mind now, it's that you have to make up your mind."

            Kevin Clinton, political science major had a problem with the labor market demand saying that courses that are less in demand for employers may be in danger.

            "Not everyone will get a job in their field and the labor market demand in their recommendations will not address that," said Clinton.

            Mann said that the courses Clinton brought up, women's history, political science, art, and music would not be affected by the labor market demand.

             Berlinda Brown, Board of Trustees member also approached the board with the question what would happen to part time students.

            "Reality is a lot of students have to work and cannot attend full time, how will it work for them," said Brown.

             "Whether you are part time or full time, you will receive the same access," President Rocha responded.

             "We had many discussions in the Task Force if we focus on student success are we limiting on access and we concluded, you should have access to something that leads to success," said Mann.