OCCC Pioneer

Oklahoma City Community College Student Newspaper

Author: Amar Molinas

Community Writer Katie Axtell

Free college opens wrong doors

   Amar Molinas  0

President Obama’s last two speeches hit on a specific topic that people all over the country are talking about: free 2-year college for everyone who “works for it.”

While many would argue it’s a good idea and something that can benefit this country, I disagree.

It’s true that higher education is expensive and can cause enormous debt, but those who reach, work and make the effort for it can get through college with little to no debt.

According to debt.org, an estimated $46 billion in grants and scholarships is awarded by the U.S. Department of Education, as well as an additional $3.3 billion in gift aid from churches, foundations and non-profit groups.

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Some programs likely to see fee increases

   Amar Molinas  0

Some OCCC students are expected to see new fees or higher fees associated with attending courses, possibly as early as fall 2015, said Business and Finance President John Boyd.

He said these fees are course specific, only applying to those in certain courses of study. And for those who do see a fee increase, he said, most will only see fees increase by $5 per class.

On Monday, Jan. 26, OCCC Regents voted to authorize a request to approve modification of academic service fees.

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Didn’t know? Did you check your email?

   Amar Molinas  0

Enrolling and attending classes can be fun until students are forced to face the harsh reality that a college education is not free. OCCC Bursar Cynthia Gary said by following some simple steps, students can simplify their financial situation.

Gary said she emails students with important current information and even upcoming information concerning student accounts, payment plans and drop dates.

To begin with, she said, all students should check and read their student emails, especially those from the Bursar’s Office.

Students who aren’t able to pay their full tuition in advance are automatically set up on a payment plan, she said.

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Career Transitions program offers many hope for the future

   Amar Molinas  0

Virgil Teter was once working various jobs in fast food and retail, looking for a career opportunity. He then learned clerical skills while in the Career Transitions Program, which led to him getting get a stable job.

Now, years later, Teter is back at OCCC working as the Career Transitions Retention Coach and earning his master’s degree at the University of Oklahoma.

Teter said the Career Transitions Program allowed him to get an education and encouraged him to pursue his dreams.

Students are referred to the program by the Department of Human Services.Teter said the students are taught employment skills while in the program so they can re-enter the workforce.

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accounting

Accounting lab available to help students succeed

   Amar Molinas  0

Tucked away in the northeast corner on the second floor of the Main Building in room 2R1 is a hidden gem. The Accounting Lab isn’t one of the most well-known resources on campus, said Myra Decker, accounting lab supervisor. However, she said, accounting students need to be aware of the available help.

Students enrolled in Accounting I Financial and Accounting  II Managerial can stop by the lab to get help with homework assignments, use the computers to complete homework on Connect, or simply to study, Decker said.

“Students can use the lab without needing help,” she said. “It’s just a nice quiet place to study. We have arranged it with small groupings of tables, so sometimes they just naturally form little groups or just use it as a place to study … .”

Decker said in addition to getting assignments checked and questions answered, students can get practice questions or practice tests.

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Agnostic, atheist club added

   Amar Molinas  0

OCCC’s Agnostic, Atheist and Freethinkers Club welcomes new members with open arms, said Club President Benjamin Mowbray.

Mowbray said the goal of the club is stated in its purpose statement: “We bring together and support non-believing and religiously questioning members of the OCCC and local community, and provide a safe and welcoming environment to engage in open dialogue, skepticism, and critical thinking of secular issues. …Our goal is to provide a support system for people who don’t believe or are on the path of doubt and question religion.”

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sports

Basketball sign-up deadline is Feb. 3

   Amar Molinas  0

The Feb. 3 deadline to sign up for the spring basketball season is quickly approaching, said sports assistant Matthew Wright, who oversees the intramural sports program at OCCC.

Wright said this sparks a busy semester for intramural sports.

“Of our spring sports, the basketball season is easily the most popular,” he said.

Wright said giving students the first two weeks after school started Jan. 20 to organize teams or apply as a free agent and be added to an existing team was a fair amount of time.

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