Two big problems have one simple and similar solution here at Pierce College.
A bright, obnoxious yellow sign is sloppily taped to your classroom. “Will Not Meet” is written in big, bold black letters.
This says to me that professors can call in being sick and post a sign and still require their students to show up to class, just to sign your name as proof you showed.
Let’s not and say we did. So very many things can and do go wrong with this system.
For students who have class once a day, this process is greatly aggravating.
Furthermore, many professors encourage their students to write down two names and numbers of fellow classmates.
If class is canceled, all it takes is one friend to write down their classmate’s names. True, that’s wrong and a type of lie, but it happens.
Secondly, if the professor doesn’t show, why should we? Although it’s a minor defense, it still validates how we feel.
Although it’s a bother to deal with as a student, there is a clear and easy fix to this problem.
A smart and perhaps more poignant approach to this issue is to turn to technology. We have the resources and we have the means.
Pierce requires all students to put a working and valid email address as reference upon registering for classes.
Each professor is then given a list of their students with names, ID numbers and email addresses.
Instead of wasting paper and causing upset for the students with the “Will Not Meet” signs, there should be a formatted, premade email that can be sent to all the students per each professor.
The email should be sent out at least the night before stating that class will be canceled. It’s that simple.
At CSUN, the professors have been using the email system for many years. Students are notified about canceled classes due to sickness, family emergencies and any other instances that require a professor to be absent.
Furthermore at Glendale Community College any cancellation of classes is posted on their online website.
If students show up to the class despite the email notification, a posted note from the admissions office will be there. Still, there is no requirement for students to still sign in.
With Pierce making changes to Lot 8 making it “green-friendly,” posting classes cancelled online is a step in the right direction.
The next big issue that many students stumble upon occurs at the start of every fall and spring semester— crashing classes.
At Pierce, a student sits and waits for a permission number from the professor. Then, they head over to the Student Services Building and wait in line to add the course.
CSUN again takes the Internet approach. Every student is issued an ID number and password. They all have access to a portal where they can enroll in classes, views their class schedule and pay for any and every fee.
Once a student crashes a class and gains a permission number from the professor, they have 24 hours to log onto their portal and enter the code. That is all it takes to add classes.
All it takes for Pierce to work with velocity and intention is to use the technology resources that already exists and works.
