Top College News Subscribe to the Newsletter

Students are Asleep in thier Chairs

Too many students come to Valley College to socialize and cause distactions in class.

Published: Wednesday, September 23, 2009

Updated: Wednesday, September 23, 2009 17:09

students are asleep

Leonardo Alannis | Valley Star

Recollecting my semesters here at Valley College, I have seen a trend in the unprepared students which I often come across, the class sizes that drop significantly, and a student body more interested in their Blackberries, and iPhones rather than their reading assignments, exam reviews, and term papers.

This leads me to one conclusion about the average community college student: lazy. When asked if she thought the average Valley student was lazier in comparison to a university student; Valley student Patricia Lopez said, "I believe that's true because the students take it as it's easier to be here…at a university it's in the title; it's going to be hard work."

Of course I have not taken every class, met every student, and seen every grade book. But I feel safe in my conclusion knowing that Valley contains a non-majority of hardworking; back busting, show-up-on-time students.

In a 2007 survey taken of the Los Angeles Community College District (LACCD), students were asked what was the highest degree they planned to obtain as a community college student; 18 percent of Valley students answered that their highest goal was to earn a high school diploma or GED. This was consistent throughout the district, which suggests many students have no plans to further their educational status, but will most likely be willing to complain about book prices and tuition fees.

Of the 18,436 students which attended Valley in the 2007-08 semesters, only 802 went on to transfer to a UC or CSU, and only 1,317 were awarded a degree and/or certificate.

This proves a complete lack of motivation in many "college students" floating around campus.

"I don't think our students are lazier," Michelle Fowles of the Valley College research center said. "I feel our students have numerous obligations and pressures that may interfere with their educational goals…Our students are more likely to be part time, when comparing our students to the UC you really are comparing different populations."

It goes without saying that Valley students may have added pressures, responsibilities, and jobs. But these students do not only exist at the community college level.. In fact, many students at our level have aspirations of transferring to a university, graduating and many times going on to earn their, bachelor's or master's degrees.

I applaud those who are stepping up to the plate each semester; there are many of you out there. Those with an excuse… welcome to college.

Recommended: Articles that may interest you

1 comments Log in to Comment

W. L.
Wed Sep 23 2009 20:14
Dear Lucas Thompson,

First, I’d like to take the opportunity to commend you for utilizing this vehicle to address issues like this one that truly matter. In your article, you claim that the vast majority of LAVC’s student body is lazy because they are more interested in their gadgets than obtaining a higher education. Furthermore, you provide a 2007 survey that suggests that many [LACCD] “students have no plans to further their educational status, but will most likely be willing to complain about book prices and tuition fees.”

I couldn’t agree more with you on this issue; however, as a reader, I would have wished to read your solution to this problem or a hypothesis that would explain the lack of motivation on the part of the students.

I have a hypothesis that would probably raise some eyebrows. First, let’s concentrate on explaining the origin of the “lack of motivation” of the students. So, I argue that the problem lays in the substantially inexpensive community college education, compared to UC and Cal State’s. In addition to that, let us not forget that there are many ways to reduce such costs, namely, Board of Governor Fee Waiver. So, this means that the price of education is passed to the all tax payers, as oppose to the student. This, I argue, condones irresponsibility and “lack of motivation” on the part of the students, who are neither paying for their education out of their own pockets nor their parents. Therefore, one can conclude that reasonably low education costs do not always lead to a larger and more positive result for the greater number of people. Instead, as it is in this case, condone personal irresponsibility and lack of motivation on the part of the students.

Let’s concentrate on the second point, which I believe is directly connected with the first, and I think is worth of considering. What I mean is the “economic motive” of community colleges. One needs not to be an economist to understand that “student retention” is far more important for community college, from the economic point of view, than frankly graduation or transfer rates.

This is, then, my hypothesis on this matter. Once again, I congratulate you for addressing this issue.

Keep up the good work!

W.L.
Political Science Major

You must be logged in to comment on an article. Not already a member? Register now

Log In