Administrators of the Kern Community College District recently informed district personnel that the number of Full Time Equivalent Students is too low for Bakersfield College to receive certain funding from the state.
District, as well as school administrators, have brought several ideas to light regarding solutions to this current problem. One idea that has been implemented so far is the assembly of a “task force” (which consists of high-end administrators) to decide potential solutions to retaining students at BC.
Another proposed solution that the administration has proposed is asking instructors to take on an additional class if at all possible and to add more students from the waitlist.
While we have to give the administration some credit for at least addressing the issue, we do, however, have some ideas of our own about how to promote return students at Bakersfield College.
First and foremost: no dilly-dallying with the class schedule. The administrators passed the blame to the printers, but this is no excuse. If the current printer cannot get the schedule out on time, then find one who can. It may cost more money, but in the long run, more prospective students will be given more time to select classes and plan for any schedule changes with their employers that could potentially result in a higher number of enrolled full-time students.
Secondly: Students want perks. After paying $26 per unit, a health center fee, possibly up to $5 for the student center fee, $15 if students forgot to uncheck the ASB sticker box online, potentially a parking permit and, of course, textbooks, a full-time student is paying in the neighborhood of a grand per semester.
On top of that, they are expected to maintain a reasonable GPA, and many students rely on employment to raise money for their schooling each semester. Perhaps rewarding those full-time students who maintain a 3.0 or higher GPA with five percent discounts on textbooks the following semester, or a free parking permit, would give students incentive to get good grades and motivation to come back to school the following semester to further their education.
Another “perk” that might encourage enrollment to BC would be to look into getting monthly GET bus passes at discount rates for students who use public transportation. Many students at four-year schools in metropolitan and rural areas have free access to the area’s public transportation, which helps to lighten the burden of paying for gas and allows them to spend money on other things such as food, tuition or text books.
Whether administrators take any of our suggestions is up to them. We do, however, recommend actually talking to students. Perhaps it’s not too much effort for the task force go to the cafeteria or the library or stand in line with students waiting to buy textbooks and ask them what classes they are having trouble getting into or what times would be more convenient for classes to be scheduled.
Or simply ask them what they could do to get them to come to BC.