Lorrie Reyes/ The Roundup
The Program for Accelerated College Education’s (PACE) number of available class sections has dropped from approximately 42 sections in fall 2008 to 31 sections this fall semester at Pierce College.
According to PACE Director, Art Gillis, this is the main reason that PACE class sizes have risen steadily.
The number of students enrolled in the PACE program and PACE Bridge classes in fall 2009 has increased to 1780 students from 1561 students in one year.
The decrease in the number of sections and the increase of students in PACE can be attributed to the continuous budget cuts that the Los Angeles Community College District had to incur on the nine colleges in the district, which includes Pierce College.
“The increase is not dramatic,” said Gillis, “But it appears so because we have so few classes.”
The Pierce PACE program is aimed toward working adults who are busy with full time jobs and/or families and are specifically designed to help the student graduate or transfer to a four year university.
Students attend designated courses that meet one evening a week and five Saturdays in an eight-week period.
The largest challenge for professors is the preparation for their lectures. Some PACE professors are currently teaching their largest classes to date, ranging from 80 students to almost 140 students during their Saturday sessions.
“Your lectures have to be more precise and concise in the delivery of lectures and therefore makes it more challenging,” said PACE professor Edward Gika who is currently teaching Humanities 31.
Although the number of students is rising in PACE classrooms, both professors and students are aware of the situation and are trying to embrace the increase.
“[The class size] doesn’t matter, it actually feels like a university class and it’s something you have to get used to.” said Joseph Demby, 24, and a first time PACE student.
The PACE program has picked up more attention than from just students. Cal State University Northridge (CSUN) also has a program akin to the PACE. Although CSUN has cut their General Studies cohort after fall 2009, they plan on building upon their existing Business PACE program.
Despite the prospect of crowded classrooms, students remain what is most important to Gillis and other PACE instructors.
The students who want an education should have it,” said Gillis, “We will offer as many seats as possible.”
With the PACE transfer and graduation rate almost doubled of a traditional students rate, Gillis might need more seats to offer.
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