Some former students have notified me that Imperial Valley College had threatened to cancel an electrical class they needed for solar certification because of low enrollment. These students had told me that the same thing took place last semester. The program is supposed to last a year but if canceled it will take a lot more time before a student could possibly enter the job market. What is going on? — Concerned educator, Calipatria
This Probe initially came to our attention at the beginning of the winter semester, which was two weeks ago. Since then, the electrical class has been saved from cancellation. Aside from any students who had registered late and added the class in the interim, Imperial Valley College administrators had also decided to allow the class to remain in session.
When it comes to certain classes and courses, administrators will take into consideration how a cancellation might impact students’ progress toward a degree or certification, said Efrain Silva, dean of economic and workforce development.
The college does have minimum standards that must be met for a class to be sustainable, which is based on the enrollment cap placed on particular courses. Enrollment typically must meet about 50 percent of the cap number in order for it to remain in session, we’re told.
In order to better manage a class’ cancellation, the college has also implemented an enrollment management plan, Silva said. This provides students with options that would allow them to continue the course work — likely at a different time and location — in the event of a cancellation. The number of class cancellations has declined in recent times as a result of the system, Silva said.
IVC officials will also analyze the circumstances surrounding a class’ cancellation to determine what, if anything, could be addressed so as to avoid a repeat occurrence, Silva said.
Then there are also other considerations that relate to an instructor’s workload and whether they are under contract to teach a certain number of courses, he said.
To join the discussion and add your comments to this story, please click here to be directed to Facebook.
This Probe initially came to our attention at the beginning of the winter semester, which was two weeks ago. Since then, the electrical class has been saved from cancellation. Aside from any students who had registered late and added the class in the interim, Imperial Valley College administrators had also decided to allow the class to remain in session.
When it comes to certain classes and courses, administrators will take into consideration how a cancellation might impact students’ progress toward a degree or certification, said Efrain Silva, dean of economic and workforce development.
The college does have minimum standards that must be met for a class to be sustainable, which is based on the enrollment cap placed on particular courses. Enrollment typically must meet about 50 percent of the cap number in order for it to remain in session, we’re told.
In order to better manage a class’ cancellation, the college has also implemented an enrollment management plan, Silva said. This provides students with options that would allow them to continue the course work — likely at a different time and location — in the event of a cancellation. The number of class cancellations has declined in recent times as a result of the system, Silva said.
IVC officials will also analyze the circumstances surrounding a class’ cancellation to determine what, if anything, could be addressed so as to avoid a repeat occurrence, Silva said.
Then there are also other considerations that relate to an instructor’s workload and whether they are under contract to teach a certain number of courses, he said.
To join the discussion and add your comments to this story, please click here to be directed to Facebook.
