Correction: The time for the Oct. 28 board meeting was incorrect; the meeting begins at 6:30 p.m.
Simon Sanchez, computer science sophomore and Student Leadership Coalition member, explains the impact of generic degrees at a student assembly Oct. 22 in the student center annex of Palo Alto. Members of the coalition urged students to attend their board meetings. The next one is 6:30 p.m Oct. 28 in Room 101 of Killen Center, 201 W. Sheridan. Photo by Milena Arias.
The Student Leadership Coalition asks students to speak their concerns about the generic degree at the Board of Trustees meeting next week.
By R.T. Gonzalez
sac-ranger@alamo.edu
The Student Leadership Coalition on Wednesday urged Palo Alto College students to attend the board of trustees open meeting Oct. 28 and speak up about the generic degree plan.
The coalition, which held an assembly at Palo Alto, was formed in the spring as a voice for students’ opinions on issues that concern them.
District officials decided in April it would be in the student’s best interest to remove concentrations from Associate of Arts and Associate of Science degrees.
Students and faculty were not informed about the decision until September.
Simon Sanchez, computer science sophomore and coalition member, said the more students voice their concerns about the generic degrees, the more likely district will decide to keep the concentration in the degrees.
“Our goal is to have a large number of people go,” Sanchez said. “If we have a lot of good arguments, they aren’t going to listen to us unless we have numbers.”
Pre-nursing freshman Tammy Gallardo said the generic degree plan is affecting her decision to enroll her children in this college district.
“Why would I send my son here if they’re going to take away something that he might need for a job?” she said. “It takes away from why I’m working so hard.”
Business sophomore Gilbert Perez said having the concentration on his associate degree shows his accomplishment as a first-generation student.
“I take pride in (my concentration),” Perez said. “It’s my own personal satisfaction from what I accomplished.”
Perez said students should share their concerns at the board meeting because trustees may not change their minds if only the students in the coalition attend.
The meeting will begin at 6:30 p.m. but students will be given a two-minute window to speak during the open meeting at 5:30 p.m. Oct. 28 at district headquarters, 201 W. Sheridan.
The coalition will also appear before the board with two representatives of the group speaking their concerns for five minutes each.
