Countywide : Board to Vote on Course Requirement

Trustees of the Ventura County Community College District tonight are expected to vote on a requirement that students take an ethnic or women’s studies class in order to transfer to a four-year university.

Liberal arts and science students who plan to transfer to a university can get an associate degree or take similar course work that does not require taking an ethnic or women’s studies class. Such a class, however, is mandatory for an associate degree, said Darlene Pachecho, vice president of instructional services at Moorpark College.

“There is a general concern that students find loopholes to not take women and ethnic courses,” Pachecho said. “I think it’s necessary because it addresses the issue of diversity in our state. We’re vastly, quickly becoming a state of no majorities.”

However, board President Gregory P. Cole said Monday he has some reservations about making an ethnic or women’s studies class a requirement for students at Moorpark, Oxnard and Ventura colleges.

“If a person is majoring in chemistry, does he really need an ethnic studies class?” Cole said.

Cole said he is also worried that such courses would delay students’ plans to transfer if the courses are not offered often enough.