The last day to drop passed long ago, there is no way for a Fresno City College student to get out of a class without damaging their record. How does a student succeed now that the semester is in its final stretch?

FCC computer concepts student, Robert Stevenson, said, “I’m going to keep going to class, keep going early, and turn in all my work.”

He said that balancing his classes and finding work is hard, and now that the drop date has passed he will not give up on the classes he chose.

“I have a whole bunch of work to do; I have to find a job and keep good grades; I don’t have a lot of time, so the tutorial center comes in handy,” said Stevenson.

The tutorial center is a way for students to retake their tests, finish missed assignments, and basically understand information that their teachers are giving them.

Another student, Brittany Clement, is in her first year, fresh out of high school. Clement said that the tutorial center helps her, “Unwind all the information” her teachers throw at her.

The school has been going through a few academic changes. Title V is quickly coming into effect, allowing a student to be able to petition to withdraw from a class but only with strictly documented proof of an extenuating circumstance. Also, other requirements under review are: new students will be required to take Math 103 and English 1A in order to graduate.

But according to the Admissions and Records Manager, Doris Griffin, “If you are a continuing student, as long as you don’t leave… and come back, that would not apply to you.”

Griffen said that FCC has a couple of things they are trying to do for students in order for them to never fail a class more times than they are allowed.

“We’ll require first year students to see a counselor before the final attempt, not after…so that way, they can thoroughly discuss it with a counselor and make sure that they realize what all the consequences are, should they not be successful in the class again…we are trying to make sure students see counselors before they take it for the last time possible.”

One of FCC’s mathematic instructors, Rosemarie Bezerra Nader said, “The students really need to be sure to put themselves in a class they are ready for. It’s very beneficial.”

Nader also said, “They need to stay in and they need to pass, and they can do that by making use of resources, such as office hours and the tutorial center.”

According to the State Center Community College District Department of Institutional Research’s website, a total of 22,415 students registered but successful completion rates ranged from 50.87% for African Americans to 71.31% for white / non-Hispanic group.

Griffen said, “I think it’s really important if students want to succeed that they be really aware of what is in the college catalogue and know what the requirements are and they meet with a counselor to go over their plan for success.”