With Cosumnes River College nearing this year’s fall semester, students faculty expressed concern as well as their plans to prepare for changes to be in effect.
Announced during the spring 2011 semester, all future full semesters would require students attending to pay a total of $36 per unit as opposed to the original $26. Other changes include the danger of some faculty members being unable to return for the next semester.
“As an adjunct faculty, I do not have tenure like many of the full time faculty at CRC, so I have to plan for a reduced teaching assignment or the possibility I may not be assigned any classes in the fall,” said Radio, TV, and Film Production instructor Lauren Wagner who expressed concern over the future semesters. “Like everyone else, we are feeling the stress too and we are trying to come up with the best plan to keep services for students.”
Wagner advised her students in getting ready to enroll for the fall semester before it’s too late. Wagner also suggested her students to have multiple backup plans just in case if one misfires.
“If you find that the English class you needed is full, find another class that will meet a graduation or transfer requirement,” Wagner said. “I encourage them to look at selecting classes the same way.”
One of Wagner’s students 27-year-old Sachin Sewal has already set up his plan for what he will do prior to the fall semester.
“I will see what classes are available in the semester first and then see if it will fit what I am majoring in and then go from there,” Sewal said.
21-year-old Brett Bechthold voiced his plans.
“I’m going to try to enroll to my classes as early as possible because of the talk of some being in danger of becoming cut,” said Bechthold. “Due to the budget cuts, the fear of disappearing classes is my biggest concern.”
Although concerned about cuts, Wagner understands that it may be the only rational solution.
“As far as the increase in fees, we need to realize that our students are still getting a bargain in terms of the quality of education they can receive here in relationship to the amount they are paying,” Wagner said. “It does not make the increase any easier to deal with, but California Community Colleges still offer one of the best values in the country.”