Cerritos College students are unaware of an important academic tool available to them, due to the fact that the Counseling Department and Transfer Center at Cerritos College do not know any or much information about it.

The cross-enrollment program offered at UC Irvine and Cal State Fullerton allows for community college students who meet certain requirements to attend classes totaling up to five units at respective university campuses without being officially enrolled.

According to Mike Park of UC Irvine’s Extended Educational Services, these are the following requirements:

Completed at least one term at the home campus as a matriculated student

Enrolled for a minimum of six units at a community college for the current term

Earned a grade point average of 2.00 (grade of C) for work completed at home campus

Paid appropriate tuition and fees at home campus for the current term

Completed appropriate academic preparation as determined by host campus

California residency based on the guidelines set forth by the home campus.

This means that community college students who meet the above criteria may enroll at both their community college and take one class up to five units at UC Irvine or participating Cal-State universities simultaneously.

An added benefit is that financially, students may pay less than the equivalent units at their community college.

Currently, the cross-enrollment fee at UC Irvine is $20 per unit with a $10 computer account fee.

So the cross-enrollment student fee for one four-unit course would be $90.

At Cal State Fullerton, while there is no tuition to take a course, there is a $39 processing fee assessed at the Extended Education office, that oversees the program there.

At Cerritos College, students now pay $46 per unit with additional fees such as health service.

The UC Irvine course is valued at 75 percent of its unit value, but since Cerritos is on a semester system that equates to 3 units of university credit while still a lower division student.

Cal State Fullerton is on the semester plan like Cerritos College and equates to full credit or 3 units for an average class.

Theoretically, but doable, a student can attain 12 units of UC or CSU credit before he or she enters the four-year university system.

Evelyn Madison, an administrative clerk said the course of action at Cerritos College “is to have the inquiring student set an appointment with a transfer coordinator.

“The process would first include an appointment with an academic counselor who would then ascertain the student’s needs before recommending setting an appointment with a transfer coordinator.”

She also mentioned that the transfer coordinator does not offer same-day appointments.

Madison added, “The normal waiting period is two weeks.

“A walk-in session is available on Wednesdays from 5 to 7 p.m.”

This lack of knowledge does not end at the information desk level.

Cerritos College Dean of Counseling Services, Renee De Long Chomiak said, “We’re aware of it (cross enrollment), but we don’t have any forms for it. There obviously hasn’t been a lot of information back and forth on it (between UCI, CS Fullerton and Cerritos College). I can certainly try to ensure that we try to find out more about the program and all the colleges that do offer that.”

Chomiak also added, “That would be a benefit to all our students.

“Sometimes there is a lack in communication from the four-years (universities) to us or vice versa. But truthfully, I think I am going to try to find out more about that because anything that would be of benefit to our students, I want to make sure we’ve got information for (cross enrollment),” he said.

The expenses for taking a cross enrollment also include items such as books, supplies and transportation to the campus at Irvine, Cal State Fullerton or other participating universities.

For students to take advantage of the program, they have to get approval from Cerritos College.

The eligibility form gathers basic information, with a place for an authorized school signature and stamp from the admissions office verifying that:

• You have met the criteria stated.
• You have paid for at least the minimum six units required concurrently.
• You paid the processing fee of $7 at the time of request.

Vincent White, Fullerton College cadena coordinator at the Transfer Center said, “(Cross-enrollment) is a great benefit for the student.”

White also utilizes Cal State Fullerton’s cross-enrollment for Fullerton College students.

“My fear is that Cal State Fullerton may eventually cancel the program,” White added.

Ericka Alcantar, an enrollment assistant at UCLA’s Extended Education Office, said that it too offers cross-enrollment.

Alcantar confirmed that, “An eligible cross enrollment student may take up to a six unit class.”

Chomiak said, “I’ve heard about this program, but I don’t know very much about it, and it’s probably something that I think we should look into.”

In regard to the lack of information provided at the Transfer Center or anywhere else on campus, Chomiak said, “What’s interesting is that at the Transfer Center, we do have representatives from UC Irvine, UCLA, Cal State LA, Cal State Fullerton, Cal State Long Beach and Dominguez Hills (visit), but truthfully, I’ve never talked with any of them about cross-enrollment.”

The Cerritos College Transfer Center can be reached at 562-860-2451, Ext. 2154.