Priority registration still offered for Spring

State law requires Pierce College and all other Los Angeles Community College District schools to allow priority registration to three groups of students: veterans, EOP&S (Extended Opportunity Programs and Services) and special services students, according to Marco J. De La Garza, dean of student services.

Neighboring schools such as Mission College, Los Angeles City College and College of the Canyons also give priority registration to the same three groups.

According to De La Garza, Associated Students Organization officers and athletes do not receive any type of priority registration, nor have they in the past. Only the three specified groups receive any special treatment in terms of registration.

“There is no priority registration for athletes,” said athletic director Bob Lofrano.

William Marmalejo, dean of student enrollment at Los Angeles City College, confirmed that athletes do not officially receive priority registration on campus.

However, College of the Canyons, outside the LACCD, does give priority registration to athletes.

“Athletes can register about two days prior at the same time as veterans and special services students,” said Rachel Rodriguez, graduation technician at College of the Canyons. “They must get approval from their head coach, who then puts them in the system so they can be eligible to enroll earlier.”

For the rest of the student body, registration is based on the number of units a student has completed at Pierce College.

Registration appointments are set electronically and begin with continuing students, then returning students, new students and finally high school students, according to De La Garza.

De La Garza believes the system is fair and works to the advantage of students who are trying to finish and/or transfer.

“The premise of the system is that more units should mean that you are almost done,” he said. “The system works to the advantage of students who want to finish, as those are the students that should have the most units.”

Mission College, Los Angeles City College and College of the Canyons all use the same system to determine registration appointment times.

“Registration is based on the number of units accumulated on our campus,” Marmalejo said.  “The more units, the earlier your registration date.”

Each campus, however, sets up their priority registration dates differently.

Students who are part of the special services program at Pierce can enroll about a week before the general student population, according to the Special Services Office.

According to the Fall 2010 schedule of classes at Mission College, veterans and EOP&S students register about one month prior, while at Los Angeles City College, those same groups register three days before all other students, according to Marmalejo.