Pierce Listed No. 1 in 1998 Transfers

Pierce College sent a greater percentage of its students to California’s public universities in 1998 than any other community college in Southern California, according to figures released Tuesday.

Of a total enrollment of 13,628, about 850 Pierce students--or 6.2%--transferred to the University of California or Cal State systems by the end of the 1997-1998 term, according to the statistics. For the same period, Santa Barbara and Orange Coast colleges were a close second and third with transfer rates of 6.1% and 5.9%, respectively.

In announcing the rankings, Pierce College’s new president, Rocky Young, said he is seeking to shift the public’s focus toward Pierce’s educational mission and away from a controversial proposal to convert a campus farm into a golf course, among other issues.

“Even with all the trials and tribulations Pierce has gone through, the educational integrity of the institution hasn’t been jeopardized,” Young said.

Among its total 1997-98 enrollees, Santa Monica College sent 680 students to UC campuses--more than any other community college. But when transfers to CSU schools are included, and the total measured as a percentage of the campus’ total enrollment, Santa Monica ranked 11th in the Southland.

“We’re No. 1 [in transfers] to UCLA, USC, Loyola Marymount and Pepperdine, but not to the CSU system,” said Peter Geltner, Santa Monica’s dean of institutional research. “Our students tend to transfer to more prestigious institutions.”

The data cited by Young--while positive and worth noting--does not provide a full picture of the Pierce educational experience, according to statisticians for the state chancellor and Los Angeles Community College District.

For instance, most California community colleges do not keep statistics on whether students intend to transfer to four-year institutions. Such a measurement might provide the basis for more useful comparisons, experts said.

“The numbers don’t recognize the great diversity of purpose at community colleges,” said George Prather, a senior analyst for the Los Angeles district. “Still, Pierce’s numbers are very respectable, and that does need to get out.”

The transfer rates for Pierce and other colleges in previous years were not immediately available.

Young said Pierce’s high transfer rate in 1998 is due to its experienced faculty and the fact that 77% of all classes there are taught by full-time teachers. Prather said that percentage is unusually high.

Young, who assumed his post in June after two decades at Santa Monica College, acknowledged he had little to do with Pierce’s current situation. But he pledged to do his best to accentuate the positive--something the previous administration found difficult to do.

For years Pierce shared a part-time public relations officer with Mission College in Sylmar, and since her retirement last spring the post has remained vacant.

Young said he would like to hire a full-time college spokesperson and in the meantime will “build a list of all these gems”--positive statistics that previous administrations have failed to tout.

“We don’t want the golf-farm issue to be the main issue at Pierce College,” Young said. “That’s really not what we’re about.”