Woodland Hills : Inocencio Vows to Focus on Enrollment

The incoming president of Pierce College, E. Bing Inocencio, said Tuesday that a primary goal will be to boost enrollment, which has plummeted over the years.

His remarks came on the first day of a four-day fact-finding mission that is also designed to introduce him to key people in the college. Inocencio, who takes over as school president before the fall semester, is currently serving as associate provost for academic administration at New York City Technical College in Brooklyn.

Increasing enrollment is important in solving the school’s money shortage, said Inocencio, who flew out Tuesday from New York. “When your enrollment goes down, it is not surprising that your finances go down.”

He began his stay with a visit with the school’s Associated Students Organization.

“As president, I will be listening a lot to what students have to say,” he told about 30 students at a reception for him. Students “are the only reason for the college to exist,” said Inocencio, who expressed surprise that so many students had turned out.

“I think he’ll make a good president,” said David Riley, a computer science and electrical engineering major. “He has a good charisma.”

It is Inocencio’s second visit to the campus. He first visited last year during the job interview. He is scheduled to meet with the Los Angeles Community College District Board of Trustees today and with members of the school’s support foundation Thursday.