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Fading dreams: Higher learning slows to a crawl

Jeffrey MacGillivray, 20, has attended three community colleges in search of classes and direction. He started at Los Angeles Harbor College, then tried West Los Angeles College, where he failed to get into any classes, and now he is at El Camino College in Torrance.

Jeffrey MacGillivray, 20, has attended three community colleges in search of classes and direction. He started at Los Angeles Harbor College, then tried West Los Angeles College, where he failed to get into any classes, and now he is at El Camino College in Torrance.   (Christina House / For The Times)

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Thousands of students in California’s community college system have been reduced to taking one class at a time because there is no room in other classes. Read Stephen Ceasar’s article: Community colleges’ crisis slows students’ progress to a crawl

Boxing class

Jeffrey MacGillivray, 20, third from left, added a boxing class at El Camino College in Torrance when he was able to secure only one academic course. He didn’t get into any classes at his previous college.   (Christina House / For The Times)

Class work

Roommates Jeffrey MacGillivray, center, and Randall Jenkins, right, both 20, enjoy their philosophy class at El Camino College in Torrance. Philosophy was the only academic course that MacGillivray was able to secure a spot in this semester.  (Christina House / For The Times)

Jeffrey MacGillivray

Jeffrey MacGillivray, 20, center, works out in his boxing class at El Camino Community College in Torrance. MacGillivray added the boxing class to fill some mornings when he was unable to secure a full academic course load.  (Christina House / For The Times)

Philosophy 101

Jeffrey MacGillivray, 20, second from bottom left, heads out after his philosophy class in 2012 at El Camino Community College in Torrance. “I was thinking I can just go to community college, do my two years and transfer,” MacGillivray said. “I had no idea I’d probably end up at El Camino for four years.”  (Christina House / For The Times)

Web design class

Cinthia Garcia, 24, was able to register in only a Web design class at Pasadena City College this semester. She has given up on earning a degree.  (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)

Charity Hansen

Charity Hansen, 19, listens in her personal growth and development class at Pasadena City College. It was the only course she was able to get in 2012. “It’s frustrating,” the aspiring psychologist said.  (Gary Friedman / Los Angeles Times)

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