Sera Tucker Contributing Writer

The optional academic skill course College 110 will become mandatory for future students fall quarter 2014.

Pierce College is planning to make this course a requirement, because of the benefits of taking an introductory course may encourage enrollment and help students to become successful in their classes.

Pierce College 110 coordinator, Jeffrey Pisetzner said that the course will increase retention, persistence, and completion among students. Another coordinator, Irene Brewer said “Students will develop an education plan and complete career research,” in the course along with teaching students how to use college resources and services that will benefit them in their future schooling.

“We have already seen gains in our success rates with students who have taken College 110, so it is natural to want all students to experience the benefits of taking this course,” Pisetzner said.

The plans to make this class mandatory will only affect new students, however many students benefit from the introductory skill course. Pisetzner said “The mandatory requirement is not retroactive; it will be for new students, but not limited to them – I know of students who have been here a while but still decided to enroll in the course and found it beneficial.”

The course may attract new students looking for schools with high success rates and assist them in being successful in future college courses they may take. “I haven’t seen any statistics suggesting that enrollment will increase or decrease [from] a mandatory college success course.” Jeffrey Pisetzner said.

“Savvy students will pick colleges with higher success rates, so we are predicting our enrollment will increase as more students learn their chances of being successful will be greater if they come to Pierce.”