After choosing an expensive search firm, with less experience and fewer guarantees than others, PCC had to declare a failed, or unsuccessful, search after it witnessed its three finalists for president drop out of consideration. As a result, the college terminated its partnership with the search firm prematurely, bringing PCC back to square one in the process of finding a new superintendent-president. Collaborative Brain Trust (CBT), the consulting firm chosen by the PCC Board of Trustees (BOT) to conduct this past year’s unsuccessful presidential search, …
PCC implements new student outreach system
To combat the issue of declining enrollment and miscommunication between professors and students, Pasadena City College (PCC) has implemented Early Alert, an outreach system aimed to inform and track students’ progress throughout the semester. The program, still in its pilot phase, is integrated in Canvas and allows for “easier communication and collaboration” between the professors and students, counselor Ingrid Arana said. The system is designed for faculty members to send out communicative indicators to students, such as “Kudos” or “Flags,” to inform them on how …
What’s up with PCC’s enrollment going down?
Despite college enrollment more than doubling nationally since 1971, PCC’s enrollment has decreased due to multiple factors, including low unemployment rates, rising housing costs and a tense political climate for undocumented students.
‘Why I completed your class’: Students describe their positive experiences
Last Monday evening, the Academic Senate board hosted their second student-focused panel called “Why I Completed Your Class,” where students discussed their experiences in class and what motivated them to complete their courses. Last semester, The Courier reported on the first student panel, which was mainly geared towards the idea of why students withdraw. Presented in a similar format, the discussion consisted of students talking about their class experiences and what made them refrain from withdrawing. The event was brought back due to popular demand, …
Academic Senate blasts presidential search, threatens ‘no confidence’ vote and walk out
The Academic Senate has delivered a letter to the Board of Trustees (BOT) demanding that they declare a failed search for the superintendent-president position after concerns were expressed about the selection process and the individual finalist candidate’s fitness for the role.
Academic Senate to hold meeting over alleged ‘mishandling’ of presidential search
Another rift has opened within the campus community over the alleged mishandling of the presidential search after the Board of Trustees (BOT) narrowed the search down to one finalist, an uncommon occurrence in the community college system, according to the Academic Senate.
State of California will no longer fully fund U-Building project
The progress to get work done on the Armen Sarafian Hall (also known as the U building) has been dealt a number of blows in recent weeks. The full support of the project from the government has been derailed, and the school is hoping that the state will change its mind before the May Revise when the governor’s proposed budget from January gets an update before it is signed into law by the end of June.
PCC facing enrollment drop
Over 27,000 students are currently attending PCC this semester, yet the amount of students enrolled in classes is lower compared to that of last fall, leaving the administration to look for an explanation.
Academic Senate re-elects incumbent executive committee
The faculty reaffirmed its support for the current Academic Senate leadership as it re-elected the incumbent slate in a decisive victory against their challengers, a slate which included former two-time senate president Eduardo Cairo, who has campaigned for the senate presidency each of the last four years. The final vote tally released to faculty last Thursday showed all winning slate members received at least 59 percent support of the voting faculty. The same slate won the presidency by only four votes in last year’s election. …
PCC to hire 50 new faculty
After adding a record 35 new full-time faculty this year, PCC will be hiring 50 more full-time instructors for fall 2016. The new instructor positions are well-distributed throughout divisions, with at least four new faculty in the Business, Math, English, Health Science, Social Science, Natural Science, and Performing and Communication Arts divisions. Seven new counselors will also be hired, four general counselors and three specializing in financial aid, DSPS, and EOP&S.