2008 Woodie Awards
District Council cancels Interession
Kevin Kelley
Issue date: 9/23/03 Section: News
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Intersession courses will be cancelled for the second consecutive year in the Yuba Community College District. With no way to make up units or bump their GPA's, some students who hope to graduate or transfer after the fall will be left spending another semester here instead.
In fact, students this semester are already concerned about the cancellation. Because fewer courses are available due to cutbacks last year, many students unable to get into classes will end up waiting for spring.
"I can't graduate now because I can't get the necessary humanities course," said Mariah Perez, a student at Yuba College.
Maryam Powers, another student, said, "I needed to take History-15 but was unable to, so I can't get my transfer units; ergo I can't graduate."
Paul Mendoza, Vice President of Student Services, said, "The intersession was a time to let the students get ahead or get started early on their units."
No intersession also means students no longer have the option of using intersession to help lighten their course-loads for fall and spring. Some students regret losing this opportunity.
"Now I can't take the classes I wanted for spring because I didn't want to load up on units," said Yuba College student Ravneet Sra.
Despite students' concerns, the district administration sees intersession as a necessary cutback. The district initially decided to cut intersession in fall 2002 in the wake of the budget crisis and Governor Gray Davis's massive budget cuts. At that time, YCCD Vice President of Business Services Michael Dencavage predicted the district could save about $50,000 by eliminating intersession.
David Ferrell, Dean of Student Development on the Marysville campus, said that given the circumstances, the priority should be to protect regular semester courses, not intersession.
"We have to make cuts somewhere," Ferrell said. "I'd rather see more semester courses available in the spring than in intersession."
In fact, students this semester are already concerned about the cancellation. Because fewer courses are available due to cutbacks last year, many students unable to get into classes will end up waiting for spring.
"I can't graduate now because I can't get the necessary humanities course," said Mariah Perez, a student at Yuba College.
Maryam Powers, another student, said, "I needed to take History-15 but was unable to, so I can't get my transfer units; ergo I can't graduate."
Paul Mendoza, Vice President of Student Services, said, "The intersession was a time to let the students get ahead or get started early on their units."
No intersession also means students no longer have the option of using intersession to help lighten their course-loads for fall and spring. Some students regret losing this opportunity.
"Now I can't take the classes I wanted for spring because I didn't want to load up on units," said Yuba College student Ravneet Sra.
Despite students' concerns, the district administration sees intersession as a necessary cutback. The district initially decided to cut intersession in fall 2002 in the wake of the budget crisis and Governor Gray Davis's massive budget cuts. At that time, YCCD Vice President of Business Services Michael Dencavage predicted the district could save about $50,000 by eliminating intersession.
David Ferrell, Dean of Student Development on the Marysville campus, said that given the circumstances, the priority should be to protect regular semester courses, not intersession.
"We have to make cuts somewhere," Ferrell said. "I'd rather see more semester courses available in the spring than in intersession."