Many students have been upset because the Business Office closes earlier than other necessary services at Pierce.
The Business Office doesn’t realize that there are students of all ages registered in college, particularly in community colleges. People have jobs, families and other responsibilities outside of school.
If a student has work from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, they are unable to make the Business Office hours. They can’t take care of their school needs because the office closes at 4 p.m. on Friday’s and 7:30 p.m. the rest of the week.
Why can’t they stay open at later hours like the bookstore and even the Counseling Office? These locations are aware of the personal lives of students outside of school, which is why they make themselves more available to accommodate students and their limited time. It should be a no-brainer that the Business Office should follow suit and make themselves more available, but they don’t.
It’s the students who help give them a job just by paying for tuition, parking and even health fees. All of this has to be done in the same office that decides to close at an inconvenient hour. Maybe it’s because they feel they are short staffed, but if that’s the case then they should make space available for more student workers to assist in the office. If all the other services on campus can do it, so can the Business Office.
The office has the same three staff members working there every day and they do very little to accommodate students as it is. It’s almost as if it bothers them when a student comes in to take care of their needs.
Pierce council members should have a meeting regarding the office hours situation to help the people as well.
There are more than 23,000 people who attend Pierce to take classes and study for higher education. It shouldn’t be that difficult for the school and the staff members to focus more on the students and their needs, so things can be done in a smooth and timely manner.
Students should also be able to take the time and speak up to the school to argue their points of why the Business Office should be open longer. People have the power to speak up, and make a change.
There’s no shame in speaking your mind for something that will make things go smoother, but it is a shame when people don’t speak up about it because they feel nothing will be done. This is something that will help the community of students who are currently enrolled and possibly for future enrollees as well.
