Golden West shortens semester

Andrew Wainer

Golden West College students are wrapping up their first semester on the

new 16-week calendar that officials say has upped enrollment and captured

the attention of community colleges throughout the state.

Administrators say the new schedule, the only one of its kind in Orange

County, was instituted in response to a 1998-99 enrollment decline at the

Huntington Beach college.

To reverse the decline, the Coast Community College District polled

students last year, asking what the district could change to increase

student satisfaction.

Survey results demonstrated that the previous 18-week calendar was

unpopular with many of the students for several reasons.

Wes Bryant, vice president of instruction, cited child care and work

schedule difficulties as two of the biggest problems with the previous

calendar.

Because Golden West previously started in mid-August and the regular

elementary school begins in early September, students often encountered

difficulties finding day care for their kids while they were at the

college.

Administrators estimate that almost one third of the college’s students

are parents.

The new schedule leaves much less of a gap between Golden West College

students and their children’s school schedules. Golden West students now

begin the fall semester in late August.

According to Bryant, this not only allows parents less worry finding day

care before elementary school begins, but also allows them more time to

spend with their children.

The new schedule also allows Golden West students two extra weeks to work

during the summer.

Bryant said the two extra free weeks during the summer are key for

students because many of them work in the entertainment and recreation

industries, which reach their peak at this time. Almost 80% of students

work part- or full-time.

Bryant also noted that August is the most popular time for family

vacations, so the new schedule gives Golden West students the opportunity

to spend more time with their families instead of being in school.

Follow-up polls show that 75% of students support the schedule changes,

but on campus the changes received mixed reviews from students and

teachers.

“It is tougher to set up classes now,” said Scott Puisis of Stanton.

“Because of the new schedule I had to cut back two days of work.”

With the same amount of instruction crammed into the fewer weeks, some

students have had to give up or pare down some of their extracurricular

activities.

But while the school year is now more scholastically intense and compact,

students are able to enjoy extra free time during the summer.

“I love the longer summer,” said Jeff Trenkle of Fountain Valley. “I

study hard during the school year no matter what, so I like a shorter

semester.”

Bryant said a recent college survey indicated that 10% of Golden West

students said they would have attended another community college this

year if the administration had not changed the schedule.

Teachers were also split on the changes.

“I think a shorter semester is good because after 18 weeks people begin

to get sick of each other,” English instructor Cecelia Galassi said.

But some teachers said the new schedule does not give students enough

time to process assignments and think them through.

“I can’t teach as much,” English professor Lonnie Brooks said. “There is

not enough turnaround time between assignments.”

In spite of some complaints, enrollment is up 3%, college officials said.

The new calendar is also attracting attention from other schools looking

to increase their own enrollment.

“I get about a call a week from different community colleges asking about

the results of the new schedule,” Bryant said.