Benjamin Rizzo
In an effort to compensate a growing need from increasing enrollment, Pierce College is guaranteeing seats to eligible students in core English and math classes during the 2008 Winter intersession.Classes included with the guarantee are English 21 (English Fundamentals), English 28 (Intermediate Reading and Composition), English 101 (College Reading and Composition), Math 115 (Elementary Algebra) and Math 125 (Intermediate Algebra).The 2008 Winter Intersession is from Jan. 2 to Feb. 2.”We’ve got rooms identified. We’ve got instructors in the background. We can fill the need,” said Donna-Mae Villanueva, dean of Academic Affairs. “It’s a great opportunity.”With the intersession, eligible students are guaranteed a seat in a class that lasts five weeks, as opposed to being on a waiting list for a class that lasts four months.”It’s a service to the students,” said Math Chair Bob Martinez, who said these “big-ticket classes” are the “keys to analytical thinking.”According to Martinez, the math department will fulfill its guarantee through “shadowing” classes.Two zero-limit Math 115 classes will shadow two 80-limit classes of the same meeting times, one in the day and one at night. Once the session begins, the 80-limit classes will be divided into the corresponding shadow classes, fulfilling enrollment demand.If, however, the demand is greater than the allotted class limits, new sections would be opened up until every student has a seat.The same process would be carried out for Math 125.Eligibility for these core classes is dependent upon an appropriate skill level determined by placement processes in the math and English departments.One of those students who may be eligible at the end of this semester is Salman Khan, 24, a second-semester student at Pierce.Khan is currently enrolled in English 21 and spoke of the advantages in completing a five-week class, as he attended a winter intersession at Moorpark College last winter.”It’s good because it’s kind of like a summary of all that was required,” said Khan. “It’s good for a person who wants to finish classes fast.”There are sacrifices, however. “I could have gone on vacation,” said Khan.Villanueva said there were rewards for early sacrifices.”Research shows, and I agree, students are more successful in their college career if they take English and math requirements first, rather than waiting until the end,” said Villanueva.