Valuable moment

he importance of events like Transfer Day has greatly increased since the elimination of the Transfer/Career Center here at Contra Costa College.

The event, held on Oct. 9, was hosted by the Counseling Department and generated a large assemblage.

Many of the attending students found the different kiosks offering the opportunity to speak to university representatives in person extremely helpful.

However, one large problem looms over the heads of those who did not have their questions answered or who missed the event completely.

It is the only time Transfer Day is scheduled to be held this semester.

One would think that such a successful event for students would be a frequent occurrence on campus — it’s almost as if the college should have a Transfer/Career Center or something.

Sure, there are other events that inform students on transfer requirements held each month, but those Transfer Admission Guarantee workshops are also hosted solely by the Counseling Department.

The TAG workshops aim to inform students about transferring but don’t draw as large a crowd as Transfer Day did. Nor do they offer the convenience of talking to university representatives face to face.

The gap created by the college when it shut down the Transfer/Career Center in fall 2011 has left students to fend for themselves when it comes to transferring to a four-year college.

The immoral decision to cut such a vital resource destroys what the California Community College chancellor’s website states is a main goal of community colleges — “preparation for transfer to four-year institutions.”

At the beginning of this semester, the ASU suddenly found itself sitting on top of $46,630, money generated from a student activity fee that went into effect in the spring 2012 semester.

The large number of students who participated in Transfer Day should be a clear sign to the student government group that it has an obligation to assist the Counseling Department in helping get transfer information to students.

So far this semester, through multiple events and transactions with local businesses, the ASU has spent nearly $12,000 of its spring revenue, leaving roughly $34,500 of available funding for possible future transfer events.

The ASU spent money on a Welcome Week event that only fed delicious pastries to students. It is time to invest funds in the future of our students.

This is a pivotal moment for our student government, as it finds itself on the precipice of a great opportunity to help the students it represents. Let’s hope the ASU doesn’t miss its chance.