Several important issues were discussed at the Faculty Senate meeting held Tuesday. One issue discussed was that of student transfers.

According to Faculty Senate president Bryan Reece, there are 2,205 students this year eligible for transfer. However, 1,300 of these students will not fill out transfer applications.

More than half of the students eligible to transfer give up such an opportunity because most of these students are not even aware how to obtain their eligibility status.

The Faculty of Cerritos College plans to create a “reach out” program where the students are informed that they are indeed eligible.

Reece stated that the school’s computer system has in fact identified those students who qualify for eligibility. Of course, under the basis of the completion of more than half of the units required for transfer and under the presumption that by the spring of next year, all requirements will be fulfilled .

The school’s goal is to contact its faculty and let them inform their students of their eligibility. Whether it be by personal interaction or creating a pop-up window under their “To Do List” in their MyCerritos account, the school will advise said students to see a counselor.

Although it is a “tremendous undertaking,” as Liberal Arts representative and Speech Pathologist Ellen Horvath stated, she believes it will be of great benefit for Cerritos students.

Student transfers are of great importance. Yet, the main focus of the faculty senate meeting was the school’s accreditation.

Cerritos College has four recommendations it absolutely must correct by next March. There were eight total recommendations, all of which must be resolved by June 2010.

This is a major change because in previous years, schools were given six years to correct deficiencies. Due to a new rule implemented by the National Department of Education, schools are presently allowed only two years before the new accreditation team visits.

Cerritos College must submit a report next March, which will be followed by a visit of a smaller team who will determine the school’s status.

If in fact it has addressed the four main recommendations, all that is left is for Cerritos to do is make up for the last four by the following year. However, if it does not, we well then be considered under a “warning” status.

Considering that Cerritos has moved out of “stabilization” and increased its enrollment by 7.56 percent since last fall, it can not afford to lose its funding from other institutions, let alone its accreditation.

Acting president Farmer clearly emphasized that the faculty will be stressing on this for it will be their priorities one, two, three, and four.

Farmer determines, “We must assess, plan, implement, and improve and must be constantly in that cycle. Once we are perfect, we can then maintain meaningful, manageable, and sustainable plans.”