Vikings lose to Mt. Sac 7-2 Page 5
Volume 88, Issue 10
February 26, 2015
Published Since 1927
$23.4M PCC building takes shape By Sylvana Uribe Staff Writer
Sounds of power tools and heavy machinery echo throughout the PCC as construction continues on the GG Building, which will house student services. The structure is expected to be completed in Spring 2016. Services will include admissions and records, Financial Aid, counseling, Extended Opportunity Programs and Services, Disabled Student Programs and Services and the cashier’s office. The GG Building also will include classrooms and a food court. The 31,698-square-foot project is set to cost $23.4 million. On Jan. 27, the college celebrated the opening of the PCC Buildings AA and BB. AA, the new administration building, stands at 30,165 square feet. Building BB is 14,768 square feet. Together they house the new administrative wing, workforce development services, computer labs, faculty offices and classrooms. Lihour Hul, 19, a business administration major, said, “I’m glad students are going to benefit from the changes and have access to resources they may not have outside of the college.” Other changes to the PCC include removing the MD trailers this Spring. Trailers housing student services will remain until Building GG’s completion. At the LAC, the renovation of the vocational nursing program Building C is anticipated to be finished in Spring 2016. It will
Brandon Richardson/Viking A LITTLE LESS CONVERSATION: Students try to carry on a conversation as loud construction continues on Building GG beside the trailers at the PCC on Monday, Feb. 23.
feature hospital-simulation technology. The culinary arts program will gain seven culinary labs, studio teaching kitchens and a working restaurant when the math technology and culinary building is
completed, anticipated for this Summer. Amanda Jones, 32, a culinary arts major, said, “Having more space is going to allow for more hands-on teaching and more times for classes to be offered.”
Construction is possible due to the voter-approved $616 million Measure E bonds, which LBCC President Eloy Oakley said in his Feb. 6 State of the College Address is in its 10th year of a 15year modernization program.
Oakley went on to say that “our physical transformation is just the start. The real measure of our success is student success. We are finding new ways to help students achieve their dreams.”
of employees, elected officials almost sextupled since 1985 and and top educators from the area. the “total amount of student loan “I can’t accept it and I hope you debt held by Americans surpassed won’t either.” $1 trillion in 2011,” according to a He went on to say 27 percent 2012 study by Harvard University. of students will accomplish the Albert Romero, 50, an Engoal in four years and a glish and culinary mere 5 percent in two. arts major, said, “You For some, graduahave to work because tion gets delayed due to Financial Aid is not overwhelming demand enough. My expefor classes. With the rience has been the recent hiring of 53 fullclasses that I need at time teachers and the a certain time are not ongoing construction, available. I see a lot Oakley hopes to have of students get frusEloy Oakley more classes available to trated because they “I can’t accept it” need to work and meet the demands. However, for many nothing is available.” students, the reason they are not To combat the challenge, completing college in a timely President Barack Obama has promanner, if at all, is the ever-ris- posed offering two free semesters ing cost. The cost of college has of Community College to incom-
ing freshman, a proposal supported by Oakley. For other students, however, the reason is a lack of basic reading and math skills needed to succeed in college. Amy Wagner, an Orange Coast College employee working with incoming freshman in the Student Orientation Assessment and Registration program, said, “I am seeing lower test scores overall, especially from lower socioeconomic areas, than I was when I entered OCC.” According to the 2013 National Assessment of Education Progress, only 26 percent of 12thgrade students scored at or above the proficiency level in math and 38 percent scored at or above the proficiency level in reading. Now, with the introduction
of Common Core to California schools, some teachers said students will fall farther behind. Danielle Burson, a first grade teacher in the Norwalk-La Mirada school district, said, “If too much time is spent on the Common Core way then basic skills will not be learned and without basic skills the students are going to be unable to produce the Common Core work.” It will be several years before educators can gauge the program’s effectiveness. More information regarding Common Core is available at corestandards.org. But, whether it helps or it hurts, Oakley said he is determined to lower the number of years it takes students to graduate or transfer from LBCC.
President wants to fast-forward grad time frame 2 years free tuition, more available classes may help cut 6-year average. By Brandon Richardson Editor in Chief Six years. The amount of time it will take 42 percent of Community College students to earn an associate degree, certificate or transfer to a university, according to LBCC President Eloy Oakley said during his State of the College Address on Friday, Feb. 6. “Is six years really acceptable for getting through Community College? For finishing what used to be called a two-year degree?” Oakley said, addressing the crowd
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