The California Community College Student Success Task Force is in the process of sending recommendations for registration that would disassemble non-credit courses and charge out-of-state tuition for students who choose to take courses outside of a school’s two-year transfer educational plan.
In the case of San Joaquin Delta College, that “educational plan” would be associate of arts or associate of science degrees, general education courses, California State University transferable units or Intersegmental General Education Transfer Curriculum.
It’s ironic this group even has the words “student success” in its name.
How are students to succeed when a group such as this one is putting up roadblocks to deter and discourage certain areas of learning?
The Collegian joins community college newspapers throughout the state, including The Guardsman at San Francisco City College, in writing in opposition of these suggestions.
No one wants to take classes that would require out of state tuition when they live in the state the classes are being offered in.
That’s just common sense.
We cannot understand the reasoning behind this proposal.
Obviously it will generate revenue in the state from those who choose to take a different educational route.
However, students taking these courses may simply choose to move on and not pay the extra fee.
It seems as if the plan is to push students out the door as quickly as possible.
That would make campuses less crowded but it also sends out unprepared individuals into the work force.
In this economy no one is going to want to hire someone in need of extra training.
If the idea is to generate revenue for the state, then attention must be redirected to AB 131.
A previous Collegian column looked at the money legislators are using to fund education for undocumented citizens.
How is it fair for undocumented citizens to get $65 million, according to the California Legislative Office, in Cal Grants and other students get charged out-of-state tuition for in-state programs?
Other students are left with an empty wallet.
If bills such as AB 131 were tossed out, we would not have to come up with such ridiculous recommendations such as the Student Task Force has, that hinders, rather than helps education.
If the recommendations stand, charging out of state tuition, it is estimated that 200,000 Californian students would be turned away from schools.
That’s 200,000 students that will probably not graduate.
Is it worth it? No.
