Certificate students at Bakersfield College have been approaching their professors and asking why they haven’t received the certificates they earned last semester. According to Doris Givens, vice chancellor of Educational Services for Kern Community College District, they may not be receiving them any time soon.
“There are three items that must be completed before the certificates can be issued,” said Givens. “We must adhere to Title V, board of trustees policy and due process.”
Approximately 40 to 50 instructors and administrators were present at the Academic Senate meeting Oct. 28 where Givens addressed concerns regarding the denial of certificates.
“One of the problems we have regarding the certificates is that they haven’t been properly named,” said Givens. “A name must be given to the certificates that are awarded for classes totaling 11 units and under, then criteria for awarding the certificates must accompany the proposed name change or the name change will be denied by the board.”
Natalie Bursztyn, professor of geology at BC and member of the Curriculum Committee, asked why the proposed name of “Certificate of Specialization” was rejected by the board.
Givens clarified the name change never made it to the board, which left dozens of instructors confused about who issued the denial.
“If the criteria for earning the certificates did not accompany the name change, the name change was automatically denied,” said Givens.
Givens continually cited the reason for the confusion was because of recent changes in Title V policy. She made it clear that the changes in the policy put KCCD out of compliance, which affects accreditation.
“All of this was placed onto the board’s agenda last fall, but it wasn’t discussed until May of this year,” said Givens. “You have to understand that once you know the law, you don’t break the law.”
Jennifer Johnson, director of nursing at BC, voiced her concerns on behalf of over 200 students who won’t be receiving the certificates they’ve already earned.
“It’s not OK that our students can’t move forward and get better jobs in today’s economy,” said Johnson. “It’s absolutely criminal. These students need these certificates or they can’t take the state exams they’ve prepared for.”
Bill Kelly, BC veterinarian technician instructor, echoed Johnson’s sentiments.
“I have an entire vet tech class that can’t take the state exam because they don’t have certificates to prove they’ve taken the class,” Kelly said. “These students need to be given their certificates while we resolve this issue among the faculty and staff.”
When asked when students could expect to receive the certificates, Givens indicated she was unsure when that would happen.
“The proposal must pass all three campuses before it goes to the board because it will be a district-wide policy,” said Givens. “However, I believe that once it makes it to the board, it will move quickly. It could even make it onto the December agenda.”
Faculty and staff in attendance at the meeting, however, weren’t so sure.
“In all honesty, I believe our students could easily be waiting until the end of the spring semester before they receive their certificates,” said Johnson. “Unfortunately for our students, it’s now a wait-and-see game.”