As the summer term switches over to the fall term, the weather won’t be the only change at Camosun College. One loss students will face is the closure of the Math Help Centre at the Interurban campus. So, I have a question: should the School of Arts and Access be renamed to the School of Arts and Limited Access?
If you haven’t already been aware of the international-student cuts that have resulted in financial strain on institutions, and the ripple effects of new government legislation, you might start noticing those at Camosun in the coming terms. So, my next question to you might be: should students pay the price in the classroom and on campus when these things occur?
If you were to ask me, I’d simply say “No.” My first question might be crass, and quite blunt, but I think education should be a clear-cut conversation. Students should not suffer when stepping into an educational institution, on a campus, or in a classroom. These changes and pressures should be felt and should be managed at the highest level of the system, and should not negatively impact the individual paying for the product—in this case, that product would be an education. Education is already a high price to pay, and can be worth it, but at what point should we sacrifice its value?
This past year, one of my first big steps of entering back into an educational journey was using the Math Help Centre at the Interurban campus for upgrading my math skills and testing for my online class. I saw familiar faces there, but I also saw a new face every time, sometimes many—those who needed these services to continue their education, and to get help with understanding and building on their skills for whatever future paths they take. Closures to student services in order to balance the budget is a decision Camosun is willing to consider, but I think it isn’t one it should carry out.
When I first started taking my online class, the options were open Monday to Friday 9 am to 5 pm at Interurban and 4 pm to 8 pm at Lansdowne. Over the summer term, the changes already began to limit access at the Interurban campus. And soon, in September, it will be closed permanently. I am just one student whose schedule never lined up with Lansdowne hours. I can’t be the only one. Within my classes over the year, I heard time and time again how others also juggled travel, time constraints, family, and jobs to be able to access the help centres. Students already face big barriers and challenges to access help, but any access at all, come fall semester, will be through at the Interurban campus.
Issues from external stress should be managed behind the scenes of the institution and should in no way create more barriers to, or restrict or limit, a student’s success. So, my question, then, is this: when you pay in both time and money for a service, is it not within the servicer’s guarantee to fulfill this?