By Rosa Guillen
For years now, community colleges have been at the bottom of the educational food chain, belittled by the UC’s and Cal States. However, many more students today are turning to community colleges to expand their education.
Community college has become an important and efficient form of education that provides students flexible schedules and numerous fields of study. Recently, with so many students attending community college, it has become difficult for some to obtain the classes needed to pursue their educational goals.
The rise in attendance brings about the problem of over-crowding of classrooms. Not only are there not enough classes, but also because of how the enrollment system works many students are left with limited class choices and sometimes no classes at all.
According to the college enrollment guidelines, students who have been attending longer get earlier enrollment dates than the first year students or students who have only been attending for a short period of time. At ELAC, the system is no different and students continue to struggle to obtain classes. In order for students to have better chances of obtaining the classes they need this system must change.
Students should be given the same opportunities in enrolling into core classes such as math and english. There should be an open enrollment period for all students attending ELAC. This equal opportunity will give students the chance of adding the classes they desperately need to move on in their education. It is only fair that the most important of classes be open to all students at the same time.
Now, as for electives and other non-core classes, this is when priority enrollment dates come in handy. With core classes open to everyone, priority enrollment dates may remain as is and students that have attended ELAC for longer periods of time may enroll before those who are starting out or have attended for lesser periods of time.
As of today, students who receive late enrollment dates have trouble adding essential courses and elective classes or classes that do not pertain to their particular educational goal, just to get additional units. For these students, the goal of transferring out of community college within two years disappears.
Priority enrollment increases the time that students would like to spend in a community college. Some may argue that changing this system now would cause chaos among the student body. In reality, it would only improve education and make it easier for students to move forward.
Although it would present a very obvious change, students will soon catch on and admire the efforts made in support of their education. Currently the system only benefits a few students that are well on their way to finishing up their terms at community college. What about the rest of the students? Shouldn’t they be given the same advantage?
