Woodland Community College students have no way to obtain student discounts at movie theaters, ski resorts and restaurants offering a student rate because they are not issued a standard student ID card. Unlike most community colleges, Woodland stands out as a campus practically void of student IDs.
The Associated Students of Woodland Community College is charged with providing student IDs.
In addition to fitting in time for students dropping in for ID cards, the ASWCC is also to expected to follow Yuba Community College’s Student Association’s example of providing, “services and social activities for students. They also represent students’ views to the administration and Board of Trustees through participation on the Governing Board and college committees.”
As a result, the ASWCC has posted many flyers around campus advertising that you can “Have your I.D. within minutes!” However, students may be shocked to discover that this process is more difficult than it seems.
In order to obtain an ID card that is valid until June 30, 2006, students must provide a one time payment of $10 at the registration office and be picture ready during the blocks of time listed for the ASWCC’s office hours.
Although the ASWCC flyer lists the hours of operation as Mondays and Wednesdays from 8:55-9:55 a.m., Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9:30-10:30 a.m. and Fridays from 8:55-9:55 a.m. and 2:00-4:00 p.m., their doors have remained closed on several occasions, leaving one student “All dressed up with nowhere to go.”
Unlike the Associated Students of Yuba Community College in Marysville, Woodland’s Associated Student body is not listed on its campus website. Furthermore, unlike the ASYC, the ASWCC does not have any known means of contact with students via e-mail or telephone.
When asked for the contact information for the ASWCC, personnel at the registration office stated that the only way to reach the group was by leaving “your name and telephone number in the manila envelope” on the exterior of the ASWCC office.
Dr. Stacey Cook, the Dean of Student Services, responded positively to comments on the difficulties of obtaining an ID, saying, “Dr. Fairchilds, ASWCC officers and I are discussing how we can improve the process.”
Looking to fix the quirks on campus, Cook stated, “Like Yuba College, we would like to have staff make student IDs. However, we need to determine the logistics, impact on other services, costs, new equipment, etc.”
In agreement with Cook and the administration are several members of Woodland’s faculty and staff, who brought up another important point about the IDs. The Accreditation Council stated, “The administration needs to provide student ID cards with magnetic strips so that students can access various library and learning support services. The ASWCC should not have to initiate and facilitate this basic service.”
Acknowledging the difficulties students experience when trying to obtain an ID card, Cook explained that the ASWCC officers “are students who attend class, work, have families, etc. Unfortunately, that leaves very little time to make student IDs.”
When WCC students do receive their IDs, they may expect to enjoy benefits, such as what the ASWCC describes as “discounts at many area stores and restaurants.”
Despite several attempts, the Associated Students of Woodland Community College remained unavailable for comment.
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