Melissa Kendall
Pierce College students can expect changes in the spring “Schedule of Classes.”
After looking at data of student success rates, the psychology department has decided to place an advisory above Psychology 1 in the schedule of classes. The advisory will recommend that students be eligible for English 28 or higher before enrolling in that course.
According to the Pierce Fact Book, the success rate of psychology students as a whole from Fall 2004 to Fall 2006 was at 66 percent out of 6687 students enrolled. Faculty is hoping to raise that success rate by encouraging students to follow the suggested recommendation and enroll in a class that suits their English level. “Students are significantly better able to succeed from that eligibility,” said Ann Hennessey, Psychology 1 professor. “Our intention is student success, since so many students do not succeed in Psychology 1.”
Hennessey believes students enroll in Psychology 1 thinking it will be easy because it is listed first in the “Schedule of Classes”, not realizing how writing-intensive it really is. Other students may find it difficult because their English is not very strong, especially when it is their second language.
Many students don’t know that other psychology classes could be taken before or in place of Psychology 1. Psychology 3, 16, 40 and 60 are given to accommodate those students who aren’t at the English 28 level, according to Psychology Department Chair Edward Mazeika.
Other ways to help students succeed have been discussed, such as changing the course numbers so easier courses are listed before Psychology 1 in the “Schedule of Classes.” According to Mazeika, this was turned down because the numbers wouldn’t coincide with the other colleges in the district.
The advisory will be placed in the spring “Schedule of Classes”, and student success will be monitored. If students are following the recommendation and their success rates are higher than those students who are not, according to Mazeika, English 28 will become a prerequisite for Psychology 1. Fewer Psychology 1 classes will be offered and more classes for those who don’t meet the requirement will be offered.
Because English 28 is not yet a requirement, whether students will read and follow the recommendation is a concern.
“I wouldn’t follow the recommendation because I would want to take the classes that I am interested in,” said film-studies major Alexander Burstein. “I would feel confident that I could handle the class without meeting the recommended eligibility.”
Other students, such as Justyna Moore, ASL major, would heed the advice given in the “Schedule of Classes.”
“Even if it’s not required, it could help my studies,” she said. “Especially if it could help me transfer to another school.”
For their own benefit, Mazeika hopes that students will not overlook the advisory just because it is not yet required.
“In our best judgment, students will have a greater chance of success if they follow it,” he said.