Just not enough

Two-year institutions including Contra Costa College are places where students attend classes to graduate with an associate degree or continue their education by transferring to a four-year university.

Before its elimination in fall 2011 the campus had a Transfer/Career Center — an area for students to receive information on the process of transferring.

Cuts in state funding toward education are hindering students in many ways. One way includes the absence of the Transfer/Career Center on campus. While it may not be a lethal wound inflicted upon students, not having one still makes transferring more difficult.

A sanctuary to those with inquiries about four-year colleges is gone leaving individuals frustrated and confused.

In an attempt to put an end to the confusion CCC has been hosting several Transfer Admissions Guarantee (TAG) workshops.

These workshops provide information on the procedures students have to undergo to continue their educations.

While this substitute is somewhat helpful, the alternative just does not cut it.

Unfortunately, the workshops can’t provide every answer a student may need. Therefore, counselors have been given the responsibility of informing students about transfer as well.

The problem with this is the counseling department only allows people to drop in to see a counselor, without an appointment, between the hours of 9 and 10 a.m.

While scheduling an appointment is a sure way to see a counselor, it can take up to two weeks for the meeting to actually take place, making it hard to get those eminent questions answered in a timely manner.

What was once a painless experience is now a rigorous waiting process.

Increasing tuition and cuts in courses and departments are just adding on to the pile of an ever-filling California community college student’s plate.

It is up to the campus to provide proper tools for students who are on their way down that proverbial path of education.

Although CCC has attempted to fill the gap,  it is not enough.

One of the two pieces of paper given at the workshops includes Intersegmental General Education Transfer Curriculum and TAG Qualifications. But, if someone is confused about its contents it leaves that student right where he or she started.

It seems that some students trying to transfer may find themselves in need of help to finish the last 20 feet of their educational journeys before transferring to a four-year university. CCC is currently trying to help them with 15 feet of rope.