The State Academic Senate has recently passed a resolution enacting a requirement change which affects freshman entering the California Community College system effective Fall 2009 and beyond.
The new classes that students will be required to take are English 101 and Math 125.
“The Academic Senate decided to increase the requirements for incoming students starting in 2009. I think it is a good thing,” said Izzy Goodman, chairman of the chemistry department and president of the academic senate.
“It would raise them higher for a student getting an A.A. degree from Pierce.”
English 101 is the college reading and composition 1 class. For students to take this class they must have taken the minimum requirements in high school or complete the prerequisites at Pierce College.
College president Robert Garber responded to the new requirements saying, “My hope is that these new requirements will help us focus on what students need to develop the basic skills necessary to succeed in our programs.
“As for now there are a limited number of courses available to meet these requirements, although there has been discussion to develop new courses that would be more inclusive.”
Because of these new requirements, students may be spending more time at Pierce, although the academic senate is currently reviewing the criteria and making adjustments to the new schedule.
It also means that more money will be needed as well. Math 125 is five units and if the unit fee stays $20 until 2009, the class will cost $100 and English 101 will cost $60.
This doesn’t even include the high price of textbooks. Math books often cost more than $100 and English classes usually require several books to get through the course.
This is one thing that Maria Madrigal, 21, a nursing major, doesn’t agree with.
“I disagree with the requirement change because we will have to be in school longer and pay more money.”
Many students showed little or no concern at all. The overall attitude was “it doesn’t matter because it won’t affect me.”
A lot of students also saw the benefits of the new required classes.
“The benefits would be great. Students will get a better overall education of math and English. It will improve skills in those subject areas,” said Jorge Rocha, 21.
“These changes are currently being discussed in the Student Success Committee and will be an ongoing topic over the next year to be sure that students are prepared for these changes,” said Garber.
The prerequisite for this class is English 28, which also has a prerequisite of English 21 and then English 20 or 87 before that.
Students can also take an English Placement Exam before entering Pierce in order to find the level which class they should be in.
“The results of the English Placement Process or a valid English Enrollment Authorization Form must be on file in order to enroll in… English101,” states the English department in the schedule of classes for Spring 2007.
The new math requirement of Math 125, Intermediate Algebra, also requires other prerequisites.
Students can take pre-algebra in high school and get a ‘C’ or better to get into Math 125 or take Math 115 and 110 or 112.
A Math Placement Exam may also be taken in order to go directly into Math 125.
and English classes usually require several books to get through the course.
This is one thing that Maria Madrigal, 21, a nursing major, doesn’t agree with.
“I disagree with the requirement change because we will have to be in school longer and pay more money.”
Many students showed little or no concern at all.
The overall attitude was “it doesn’t matter because it won’t affect me.”
A lot of students also saw the benefits of the new required classes.
“The benefits would be great,” said Jorge Rocha, 21.
“Students will get a better overall education of math and English. It will improve skills in those subject areas,” he added.
“These changes are currently being discussed in the Student Success Committee and will be an ongoing topic over the next year to be sure that students are prepared for these changes,” said Garber.
The prerequisite for this class is English 28, which also has a prerequisite of English 21 and then English 20 or 87 before that.
Students can also take an English Placement Exam before entering Pierce to find out which classes they should be in.
“The results of the English Placement Process or a valid English Enrollment Authorization Form must be on file in order to enroll in… English101,” states the English department in the schedule of classes for Spring 2007.
The new math requirement of Math 125, Intermediate Algebra, also requires other prerequisites.
Students can take pre-algebra in high school and get a ‘C’ or better to get into Math 125 or take Math 115 and 110 or 112.
A Math Placement Exam may also be taken in order to go directly into Math 125.