Blotter: Four transients escorted off campus

Share: Monday, April 20: No incidents reported on this date. Tuesday, April 21: A transient was observed sleeping north of the C Building. An officer responded and escorted the transient off campus. Wednesday, April 22: No incidents reported on this date. Thursday, April 23: Three transients were observed near the east side of D Building. Officers escorted transients off campus. Friday, April 24: No incidents reported on this date. Saturday, April 25: A lock used to secure a stairwell on the south side of CA …

PCC extends excused withdrawals and refunds deadline

Share: After the Chancellor’s Office temporarily suspended student withdrawal regulations due to the global pandemic, PCC students can now drop classes through excused withdrawals (EW) and have their enrollment fees refunded through June 14, according to the campus website. Prior to the novel coronavirus shutting down campus life, students only had until the second week of the semester to drop with a refund. With this temporary change, refunds will be automatically allowed for each student that drops a course.  Currently, classes can only be processed …

Rather be safe than sorry

Share: COVID-19 isn’t going to disappear by May 15, so why would we reopen the largest populated county in the country during this pandemic? If we extend the ‘Safer-at-home’ act and follow all of its protocols we will all be able to go back to our normal world with a greater sense of safety and a greater appreciation of the precautions the county took to protect us. LA County alone is responsible for more than half the cases in California, so it shouldn’t be a …

PCC clubs expected to struggle with remote elections

Share: On April 28, Executive Vice President of Associated Students Christopher Theung released a series of guidelines for remote club elections to members of Inter-Club Council (ICC). These guidelines are intended to help clubs that plan to hold remote elections for the new officers that will be taking over in the fall. The guidelines contain recommendations about conducting an online election from planning to execution, including checklists, things to consider, and resources for voting. An example is also provided at the end of the document …

PCC’s new triage teletherapy: ‘You don’t need to be in crisis’

Share: Amid PCC’s coronavirus closure, the Personal Counseling department has shifted gears to help students cope through triage teletherapy appointments until the campus reopens. During normal times, students may access the department’s in-person therapy sessions up to eight times during the regular term and six during intersession.  “These telephone triage appointments don’t count towards people’s session limits,” said Jason Vasquez, a counseling psychologist for the department in a zoom call. “We know that people need extra support right now. So that’s why we wanted to …

‘Pain in the ass’: PCC exasperated by federal stimulus rules

Share: At their April 22 meeting, multiple members of PCC’s College Council expressed their frustration with new guidelines from the federal Department of Education (ED) regarding the disbursement of federal stimulus money. “Let me just go on record: Betsy DeVos is a pain in the ass,” said Dr. Michael Bush, assistant superintendent and vice president of business and college services. “The legislature passed this really neat thing for higher education and then the Department of Education got a hold of it.” PCC has received $15.2 …

Blotter: Hit-and-run at Rosemead campus

Share: Monday, April 13 An officer located a hit and run vehicle from the Rosemead campus. The driver was determined to possibly be under the influence. The Temple City Sheriffs responded to the scene.  A fire alarm was activated in the Science Village. An officer reset the fire alarm and checked the area; and no there was a sign of fire.  The Pasadena Police requested assistance in locating a male who was accused of battering a female at Pollo Loco. The subject was located and …

PCC loans 275 laptops to students so far during shutdown

Share: PCC’s Information Technology Services (ITS) department is providing laptops for technology insecure students and faculty to loan amidst the campus’ closure, which began on March 19.  During this period of remote instruction, access to technology is critical for students and faculty to resume their classes online. Students without it are faced with the possibility of having to drop their courses or revert to pass/no pass credit for the spring semester. “I was pretty stressed out at first knowing that we were moving online and …

Blotter: Eight transients reported on campus

Share: Monday, March 30: No incidents reported on this date. Tuesday, March 31: Fire alarm activation in Science Village. Officer found no signs of fire. Wednesday, April 1: A transient was escorted off campus from northern Library area. A transient was reported in Lot 4. Officer was unable to locate transient. Thursday, April 2: Transient was escorted off campus from the IT Building. Friday, April 3: Two transients were camping in Lot 10. Officer escorted transients off campus. A transient was escorted off campus from …