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By Jordan Ward / Staff Writer
Staying on track (Albert Melendez / Asst. Photo Editor)
By Jordan Ward / Staff Writer
Riverside City College marked the beginning of its new priority designed to create space in the registration process for first time freshmen on July 23, but longtime RCC students are questioning the administration’s concern for their academic goals.
Due to recommendations made by the California Community College Student Success Task Force, the Riverside Community College District has instituted a maximum cap of 100 units.
In past years complaints over the lack of class space has become increasingly apparent.
“Before the new policy, students were advised to take more units to have priority registration for classes,” said Edward Bush, vice president of Student Affairs. “The new policy limits the number of units to change the order of registration for first time freshmen who couldn’t get into the courses they needed.”
Bush said the main goal is to give newer students a chance to achieve success in college.
Bush went on to describe that the effectiveness of the unit cap does not prevent students with 100 units to register.
But for Jonathan Flike, the former Associated Students of RCC president and science major, the unit cap made it almost impossible for him to get the classes he needed.
Having been advised to take more units, Flike was shocked in receiving an email of his registration date being pushed back to Aug. 18.
“I called the Admissions office about my registration date because it didn’t make sense,” Flike said. “I was told that the District was instituting a new program and that there was nothing they could do for me; then they hung up the phone.”
According to The Press-Enterprise, Flike along with 1,274 RCCD students, were pushed to the back of the registration list in order for students to enroll with specific goals, attend full-time and earn an Associate’s degree to transfer to a four-year university.
Although he was caught off guard, Flike continued to call.
“I felt hopeless, angry, and irritated by the excuses given by the administration,” he said.
Having had his appeal approved for the Monday registration, Flike continues to question the overall effectiveness of the 100 unit cap.
“‘Why would they target the small minority of students who have completed over 100 units?'” he said. “Those who do complete over 100 units are often the ones that take the classes and move on.”
The student body has mixed feelings over the purpose of the new priority registration policy in providing more space for student enrollment.
The general opinion among new and longtime students is that enrollment should be based on grade point averages with registration policies that allow for more classes to be open to students continually working toward their degrees; with lower grade point average students placed last on the registration list.
Anthony Jackson, an RCC student in his second year, said some students don’t take classes for the right reason.
“I think it’s unfair to students trying to complete their AA degrees, but I know there are people who take classes just for the financial aid.”