Pete Moye’
Opinion Button

Privileges are given to those who earn them, not who expect them.

When you work hard, you are rewarded and that’s why students shouldn’t complain over the new policies of the educational plan.

Effective next spring, students who have only completed a certain amount of their units, will have their educational plan reviewed.

In a published document known as the Financial Aid Educational Plan on the Cerritos College website, the Satisfactory Academic Progress standards say that students must complete their educational program within a maximum time frame of 150% the published program’s required units at Cerritos College.

However, it differentiates for students who are attempting to complete an Associate in Arts degree, transfer programs and certification programs.

AA degrees and transfer programs typically require 60 units so 150% of the published units would be 90 units and because certificate programs usually require 30 units, 150% of the units would be 45 units.

While it may be easy to react against it, understand that the decision may be beneficial.

The Financial Aid Educational Plan clearly states that its purpose is to “encourage students to focus on their education goals and successfully complete their program within the appropriate time frame.”

Part of being in college is the ability to choose your own schedule and when you want to take certain classes.

With that being said – be responsible. Visit counselors who will help you chose the best route for your academic career.

Don’t be afraid to explore different routes. If you decide to change your career path or major, feel free to do so.

Community College is not intended to be a long-term educational opportunity.

Realistically, students should be able to experiment with taking classes and still graduate without this even being a factor.

What is there to complain about? The school is, in essence, saying that they will no longer sit idly by and watch students play college at its expense.

If you are serious about your education, these new developments may not even apply to you.

College is a time to experiment and see what is best for you.

But, don’t lose sight of what your goal is, earn a degree, whether is it to transfer or just brush up on skills.

The additional policies create an opportunity for students to show accountability.

Part of being a college student is being responsible. We should all be responsible for what we say and what we do.

Let’s all be responsible. Let’s all be accountable. College is not to play. College is to work. That needs to be the primary focus of each and every student on campus, and if we refuse to do that, then there should be some sort of penalty.