Accommodating Student Schedules

“Community College Crisis” (editorial, Feb. 17) sheds some light on many of the issues facing the Los Angeles Community College District. I agree with a number of points brought out in your editorial. It points out that the district should not cancel summer school, that college presidents need more power and that the unused district offices should be sold.

I have been a business department chair for over 12 years at two of the district’s colleges and have been in charge of class scheduling. Your description of the method used to schedule classes is grossly incorrect. Our scheduling is built around what students need and when they need it. This is market-driven education. We have scheduled classes that begin after the start of our regular semester to accommodate student work and vacation schedules. We have scheduled weekend classes, including Friday night classes. We have scheduled short-term day and evening classes, afternoon classes and 7 a.m. classes. The business department at Pierce College currently has 43% of its classes in the evening. Classes are also offered off campus to meet the needs of those students not living in the immediate area. My other department chair colleagues at the college are also very sensitive to student needs.

A customer-oriented philosophy permeates the administration and faculty at Pierce College. If the student needs a class, resources permitting, we offer it.

DAVID BRAUN

Pierce College

Woodland Hills