WOODLAND HILLS : Pierce College to Add 45 New Classes

Pierce College will boost its fall schedule with 45 new classes in some of its most popular departments, the school’s president said Thursday.

“We believe the instructional program ought to be strengthened,” said Pierce President Mary Lee. “If students can’t get the requirements for a major, they are going to go somewhere else.”

The additions come after two years of financial troubles and shrinking enrollment that slashed classes at Pierce by 20%. About 200 courses had already been dropped from the 1,800 offered last fall. But this week, the administration allocated about $130,000 for the new classes after several staff members announced their retirement, Lee said. One administrative position and one or two teaching positions will not be filled, she said.

The addition will open classes in departments such as biology, chemistry and English that have waiting lists up to 50 students long, Lee said, meaning many students will be able to register for classes that were previously closed.

Other departments with new classes include math, microbiology, physics, physiology, philosophy, economics, horticulture, beginning Spanish, speech, anatomy and computer science.