New counselors ease wait times, increase length of student sessions
Corrected caption: Student worker Sabrina Starnes notes that the counseling department is currently understaffed with student workers, with a staff of five, down from eight last semester. Photo Credit: James Schaap
September 7, 2015
Within the last two years, 11 new full-time faculty have become a part of the Moorpark College counseling team.
This makes it easier for students to set up appointments. Now, rather than 13,000 students per 10 counselors, it’s been bumped up to 21.
They’ve also extended their time with students from 30 minutes all the way to 45.
“Quality over quantity,” said Traci Allen, department chair of counseling staff. “More personal experience with students, since we have more time now.”
Jennifer Pezzuto, a student worker who helps set up counseling appointments, said there are more appointments available now.
She said that despite the policy of booking appointments one week ahead, counselors are finding more time to meet students.
“Counselors are adding more appointments, so some people get in the same week,” Pezzuto said.
Cameron Simpson, a second year electrical engineering major, feels this is a step up from his previous experiences.
“You go and you have to wait all this time, and it almost feels as though they’re rushing you,” Cameron said about last semester. “There are too few counselors. Sometimes they send engineering students to someone who doesn’t do engineering.”
After learning about the new changes the college was bringing to counseling, he was optimistic.
“Forty-five minutes is pretty great, definitely a plus,” said Cameron. “That’s a big thing.”
The money to hire these new counselors came from Senate Bill 1456, also known as the Student Success Act, that Governor Jerry Brown signed into effect in 2012. It has allowed community colleges in California to receive funding in order to help new students.
Because of this, more counselors have been hired so students have more time with them to decide what they want to do. It’s a win, win.
“The more counselors, the better,” said Allen. “We’re not making new buildings with the funds we get, we’re focused on getting more counselors to aid students for the long run.”
[Correction: The Student Voice misrepresented the views of the student worker depicted, Sabrina Starnes. The caption has since been deleted and a corrected version has been inserted.]
