July 20, 2011

1)     California community college fees are controlled by the state legislature, not by individual colleges.

2)     Students at all 112 California community colleges will pay $36 per unit starting Fall 2011, a $10 per unit increase in tuition.

3)     Even with the fee increase to $36 per unit, California remains the cheapest community college system in the country. That’s about $1,000 a year for a full-time student, by far the lowest tuition in the nation.

4)     The fee increase will not affect needy students, who are not required to pay fees. Two-thirds of full-time community college students will not be affected by the increase, because they do not pay fees through BOG waivers offered by the state.  

5)     The fee raise is the result of cuts to the state budget, signed by Gov. Jerry Brown on June 30, 2011, trimming the community college funding by 8 percent, or $400 million. The fees are expected to generate about $110 million in revenue, still resulting in a net loss of $290 million to the colleges in state support.

6)     Student fees pay only a small portion of the cost of a student’s education; in 2009, they covered 11%. Community colleges receive three main sources of general–purpose funding: the most paid by the state’s General Fund; about a third paid by local property taxes; and the remainder from student fee revenue and other sources.

7)     Tuition could increase to $46 per unit in the summer of 2012 if the economy fails to meet the projections used in the Governor’s budget.    

For the first time, Pierce College will not be mailing out Summer or Fall Schedules of Classes and is moving towards online-only schedules. Some printed schedules will be available on campus by mid-May. Please go online to www.piercecollege.edu/schedules to find the class schedules from now on. Summer Classes are now 2011 posted and Fall Classes will be posted by April 29. Summer registration is now underway, and Fall Registration begins the first week of May. This is part of our campus-wide effort to go green and cut costs. Thank you.

Victory Parking Lot 7 – Open

El Rancho Parking Lot 8 – Open

Performing Arts Parking Lot 6 – Open

Stadium Parking Lot 4 – Open

STAFF:

To access Parking Lot 1 enter from the staff gate near the Chemistry Building (off Mason entrance). This could be a very congested entrance point so allow enough time to get to your class or work site. You will not be able to enter or exit Parking Lot 1 using Brahma Drive (Main entrance).

The Parking Fee for the Summer 2010 semester will be $7.  Students wishing to park in preferred parking lots (see p. 151 in the schedule of classes) will pay an additional membership fee of $3 to the Associated Students Organization.

"Smoking now stops at the curb," says Melody Cooper, Chair of the Work Environment Committee (WEC) and art professor, referring to the curb at the sidewalk that separates the main campus from parking lots.

"The central campus and farm at Pierce are smoke-free. Designated areas and Parking Lots 1-7 are the only available places for smoking," Cooper said.

"This decision was made in keeping with the Work Environment Committee’s mission to help provide a campus environment that is healthy, clean and safe."

The mission of the Pierce College Work Environment Committee is to develop policy recommendations which promote a clean, safe, healthful work environment for teaching and learning.

Dr. Joy McCaslin, Pierce Interim President, said, "I support the WEC’s work on this issue. It’s actually been a process over time of getting more strict about where people can smoke.

The new Designated Smoking Areas Map will be available at the Information Desk in the new Student Services Building.

According to the WEC, violators will be cited and subject to disciplinary action.

For those who would like to quit smoking, Pierce can help. Students can receive free assistance through the Student Health Center at 818-710-4270. Employees can contact their Employee Assistance Program at 1-800-788-5614 and their health insurance provider.

The Pierce College Work Environment Committee addresses workplace safety, environmental concerns, smoking & noise abatement concerns, campus parking matters, office space requests and other issues. Their Web link is: http://faculty.piercecollege.edu/wec/

Announcing Important Change
to the Metro Bus I-TAP Program

NEW - Effective for 2010, the new student I-TAP passes to ride Metro will cost $15 per semester for the Spring and Fall semesters only, plus a one-time $5 fee for the card. 

WHAT HAS CHANGED - Pierce College had originally published in the Spring Schedule that each pass would last six months.

Since then, the LACCD and Metro have developed a new agreement to keep the pass price at $15, but shorten the duration to the length of the Spring and Fall semesters. Winter and Summer sessions, when there are fewer classes, will not be included.

CURRENT FACTS:

  The new I-TAP passes for Spring will be valid from Feb. 8–June 9, 2010.

  Already have an I-TAP card? Then you do not need to pay the $5 card fee. Just bring in your card to the Business Office and renew for only $15.  

  Fall 2010 and Spring 2011 I-TAP passes will also be offered at $15 each and last the duration of the semester.

  Students still need to be enrolled in 12 units to be eligible for a $15 I-TAP pass.

  I-TAP passes will be available for purchase in the Business Office on Jan. 27. Please bring a valid student ID card and proof of enrollment for the Spring 2010 semester.

  Students with 11 units or less can still purchase I-TAP passes for $62 per month plus $5 card fee. 

  When using the I-TAP Pass, students need to carry a valid student ID card. Pick up an ID card at the Pierce College ID Card Center located in CopyTech.

  I-TAP Pass is good on Metro bus (including zone travel), Metro Rapid and Metro Rail. Metrolink trains and DASH/LADOT buses are not included.

See below for clinic dates and CDC priority recommendations.

• Mon & Tues, Nov. 16-17, 9 am to 6 pm, until supplies are gone.
• Questions? Call 818-710-4270
• Young adults up to 24 years of age
• 25 – 64 with chronic medical conditions
• People living with or caring for children 6 months and under
• Health care workers and emergency medical personnel
• No appointments, first come first serve
• Location: International Students Conference room, 2nd floor of new Student Ser. Building

Disqualifiers: pregnancy, current illness, allergy to eggs and thimerasol, and history of Guillain Barre Syndrome.

Fever of 100 degrees or more and/or sensation of fever and chills

• Cough
• Sore throat
• Runny/stuffy nose
• Headache/Bodyaches
• Fatigue
• Nausea and Vomiting

Prevention Tips:

Wash hands frequently

Use hand sanitizer when soap and water not available

Cough or sneeze into a Kleenex or your sleeve

Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth, germs spread that way

Manage stress, eat well, drink water, get plenty of rest and exercise

Avoid sharing personal items likes eating utensils, drinks, etc

Avoid contact with those who are sick

Get seasonal flu vaccine

Treatment Tips:  If you have ILI, STAY HOME at least 24 hours after your fever is gone without the use of fever reducing medication

Take acetaminophen or ibuprofen for fever, headache and body aches as directed on packaging

• Monitor your fever with a thermometer
• Drink plenty of clear fluids throughout the day
• Get plenty of rest
• If you must go out, wear a mask
• Contact your professors via e-mail or telephone as soon as possible

When to seek emergency help:

• Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath
• Pain or pressure in your chest or abdomen
• Sudden dizziness
• Severe or persistent vomiting
• Flu like symptoms that improve but then return with fever and worse cough

Contact your primary care physician or the Student Health Center with any questions or concerns.  The Health Center can be reached at 818-710-4270.

Other resources:

• www.flu.gov
• www.publichealth.lacounty.gov/acd/h1n1.htm
• California Department of Public Health Hotline:  888-865-0564

Elizabeth Benne, RN, PHN, MA

Director, Student Health Center

Pierce College

If you have already registered for the Fall semester, you will now owe an additional $6.00 per unit. For updated information on the enrollment fees you currently owe, log on to http://www.laccd.edu/student_information/current_students.htm, and then click on “view and pay fees.”

If you have not registered, the $26.00 per unit enrollment fee will be assessed when you do register.

If you have been awarded the 2009-2010 Fee Waiver, which covers Summer 2009, Fall 2009 and Spring 2010, the fee increase will be fully covered by your fee waiver. No action is required on your part. 

If you need assistance in paying your enrollment fees and other educational expenses, you may apply for financial aid on-line at www.fafsa.ed.gov  You may also visit our Pierce College Financial Aid website at www.piercecollege.edu/offices/financial_aid to learn our financial aid process.

We apologize for any inconvenience this causes our students.