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Written by Christopher Valdez
Forty five students attended the career and technical education mixer held March 16 at Riverside City College in front of Technology building A, according to Meriel Anderson-McDade, RCC’s employment placement coordinator.
Career and job placement, counseling, financial aid and health services were all able to answer student questions.
Most CTE students work during the day and are unable to schedule appointments with student services when the offices are open. Students such as Randy Kimm, Sally Weaver and Justin Smith. However, CTE students got the information they need from student services during the mixer
“I wasn’t even able to apply for financial aid this time, or to see if I even qualified because I wasn’t able to get in (the financial aid office),” Smith said. “Now that I got a face to face with them, that made it a little easier.”
Though he has already paid for this semester, Smith will be taking advantage of the information he gained at this mixer and will be applying for financial aid next semester.
“We wanted to bring all of the wonderful opportunities that student services has down to the CTE students, during a time when those who are working are here on campus,” said Educational Adviser Alise Clouser.
Student services is generally open until 5 p.m. Monday, Wednesday and Thursday with the exception of health services which closes at 4:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday.
Most students that showed up to the CTE mixer had no idea that admissions and records, job placement, counseling and financial aid are open Tuesdays until 6 p.m.
“Currently, right now students services is open late night on Tuesdays, so we’re open until 6 p.m.,” said Monique Greene, career center coordinator and general counselor. “And I just think that a lot of students are not aware of that 6 p.m. open time.”
“It’s definitely a lot better than being in the dark,” said Robert Marquez, an air conditioning and refrigeration student.
Marquez didn’t feel like he had the information to move on from RCC. After speaking with Greene he said he now feels he has the information he needed.
The students that came to the event received information that student services is open late on Tuesdays. However, CTE students such as Weaver are still unable to make use of the services because there is only one day that student services is open late.
“More than one day a week,” Weaver said. “I have a Monday, Wednesday class and it’s not economical for me to try and get here.”
Weaver lives over an hour away from RCC, and works during the time student services is open late.
Of the 45 students that attended, five scheduled appointments at the counseling booth during the mixer for 5 to 6 p.m. on Tuesdays.
“We have five students that got an appointment to get their (student educational) plan that said they couldn’t before,” Anderson-McDade said. “It may be small, but that’s how success starts.”
CTE and student services is planning to throw another mixer in May.
