Students had a rare moment to speak their mind with Olympic College President, David Mitchell, in a biannual “Lunch with the President” event in the North/South conference room of the Bremer Student Center May 25.
Students were treated to a free meal and were able to voice their opinions, concerns and comments. This year, many students voiced frustration with online or hybrid classes, the lack of student awareness on campus and textbook costs.
Stephanie Peterson, Associated Students of Olympic College vice president for the Poulsbo campus, complained about her hybrid math class and how the online math program scores correct and incorrect answers. Peterson also said she did not find out about the extra fees associated with hybrid classes until the time came to pay for them.
“The View didn’t state that there were extra fees,” said Peterson. “You just don’t know what you are getting into when you take the class.”
Stephanie Wilson, student organize, found out the class she was registered for was a hybrid class. She could not get rid of it because if she changed her schedule it would have ruined her other classes’ time slots.
Mitchell responded to student’s frustrations by ensuring them that frustrations by ensuring them that he “will be reinforcing the message that these fees are associated with online and hybrid classes.”
Students also claimed textbook fees are outrageous; one student said her textbooks cost her nearly as much as her tuition. Mitchell agreed that textbook costs are approaching the costs of tuition.
“The costs are too high,” said Mitchell. But, he said, “The market is going to find an answer for textbook cost.”
One student who has been at OC for nearly two years was able to provide answers to the issue of expensive textbooks.
“There are places to go find a book if you don’t have financial aid,” said Joe Hildebrandt, a 31-year-old transfer student planning to major in business. “During summer quarter you can go to the Running Start office to get a book if you have financial aid.”
John Terry, recently elected ASOC vice president of communications suggested to Mitchell a way to get real student opinions. He proposed what he called regular free pizza think tanks.
A free pizza think tank selects 20 students at random and sits them in a room with ASOC representatives and they discuss what is important to them on campus. The ASOC representatives then would take those student issues to college administration.
“I’m encouraged by the interest students have shown this year,” Mitchell said about the event. “There’s more involvement this year than any year we’ve done this.”
Be the first to comment on this article!