McCaslin Named to Pierce College Post

As part of an effort to stabilize Pierce College and turn its fortunes around, acting dean of student services Joy McCaslin was named permanently to that post, officials announced.

McCaslin is one of several staff members who have been made permanent as college officials try to close the revolving door at the school, which many higher-level administrators have exited over the last few years.

She said she was pleased to be asked to stay on in the post, which is responsible for approximately a dozen student services, including financial aid and counseling.

“Things are looking good for us,” McCaslin said Monday. “We think we’ve turned around the down curve of our enrollment.”

The college, which was granted a renewal of its accreditation last week after being put on probation in 1995, has seen a slight increase in enrollment--now at about 14,000--and launched an outreach effort to students in remote areas.

To continue that upturn, McCaslin said she plans to concentrate on recruiting efforts in local high schools, encouraging students to fulfill their lower-division requirements at Pierce before transferring to a four-year college or university.

She also said she will strengthen programs that lure students currently enrolled in high school, to convince them to get a “jump start” on college before high school graduation by taking classes at Pierce at no cost.

“Even if these students don’t want to ultimately go to Pierce when they graduate, it’s a bonus to put on their applications that they’re already taking college courses,” she said. “And if they’re doing well in school, it’s an advantage to take classes that they may not otherwise get in high school.”

McCaslin, a Pierce alumna herself, served as associate dean of student services for eight years before being appointed acting dean last July.