Enrollment going in the right direction

Headcount remained a sizzling matter at the Academic Senate assembly on Monday by way of Zoom.

Interim president Ara Aguiar stated that Pierce is down 17% in precise headcount, however the school is engaged on it.

“Our enrollment is on an upward development in comparison with two years,” Aguiar added. “We’re starting to slowly however absolutely shut the hole.” 

Aguiar additionally introduced that Pierce was awarded a $3,000,000 Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSI) grant which is to final for 5 years.

“We must thank Donna Mae, the VPs, our researcher, everybody labored on it. But particularly Mark Crocker. He has been form sufficient to come back in and work with us,” Aguiar stated.

Aguiar additionally stated that because of Crocker’s experience and steering, he has introduced $5,500,000 to Pierce in the final eight months.

The ASO Concert recital was talked about by Aguiar final Thursday and she or he thanked Korean-American pianist Jiwon Lee and Music Department Chair Wendy Mazon for placing the present collectively.

Aguiar additionally acknowledged the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges (ACCJC) Open Forum on Sept. 21 and thanked Center for Academic Success (CAS) Director Crystal Kiekel and Transfer Center Director Sunday Salter who have been a part of the few Pierce representatives who participated together with everybody who got here.

However, sure occasions going down on campus additionally sparked curiosity in most of the members of the Academic Senate.

ASO President Qais Azizi didn’t attend at the moment’s assembly however he introduced that they celebrated Latinx Heritage Month final Thursday.

“We handed out snacks to college students. We performed video games and had nice engagement,” Azizi stated in a chat message despatched by Academic Senate President and Communication Studies professor Barbara Anderson.

Azizi didn’t have any additional updates at the time.

The assembly quickly hit a suspenseful notice attributable to some occasions that befell inside the final week.

Academic Senate Treasurer Alex Villalta stated he despatched an e mail asking for members and lecturers to start out paying for Senator Academic charges.

“We’re all tremendous busy. I perceive that,” Villalta stated. “In reality, I waited till this time [the meeting] to start out amassing simply because we haven’t gotten our paychecks but.”

Villalta stated that 27 college students obtain checks from the Academic Senate, so it’s essential that members begin paying for his or her Senate charges as the costs will go up after Halloween.

Aguiar additionally introduced that the Kinesiology division reported to the Dean of Student Services on the scenario with the pool malfunction final Monday on behalf of Athletic Director Susan Armenta.

Distance Education Coordinator and Psychology professor Wendy Bass stated that there had been points with SpeedGrader and with discussions in Canvas.

“There have been some issues with SpeedGrader and glitches with discussions in Canvas,” Bass stated. “I’ll let you realize as quickly as I hear if it’s mounted however don’t drop college students as a result of it appears to be like like they’re not taking part.” 

Bass stated that it’s paramount for lecturers to drop college students from their lessons if they don’t plan on persevering with them as a result of if they’d monetary help they usually didn’t drop them, then Pierce owes the a reimbursement, which places a pressure on the finances.

On a constructive notice, Transfer Center Director Sunday Salter introduced just a few issues that occurred at the Transfer Center, corresponding to a Faculty and Staff and Tutor coaching that was rescheduled from Friday.

“Our consultant from UCLA was very sick, so sadly, we needed to reschedule that,” Salter stated. “But we shall be sending one thing out about that.” 

Salter additionally introduced that Transfer Day is about to happen on Nov. 3, the place all schools throughout the nation will come to Pierce from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. in individual to attach with switch college students and supply one-on-one assist with them.

Music professor Gavineh Avakian introduced that there shall be a live performance sponsored by ASO and Armenian Students Association (ASA) in honor of Armenian Heritage Month on Oct. 13 at 1 p.m. in the Performing Arts Building (PAB).

Physics and Planetary Sciences Dept. Chair and Astronomy professor Dale Fields additionally introduced that the Astronomy division is making a comeback with telescope nights and planetarium exhibits for the first time since COVID-19 started.

Anderson stated she needs to deal with any members who want to go along with their family members to see Clue without cost by way of a promo code offered by Performing Arts Dept. Chair Michael Sande.

The subsequent Academic Senate assembly is about to happen on Oct. 17 at 2:15 p.m. by way of Zoom.