Ohlone’s Transfer Center was almost a victim of budget cuts – a move that would have left students and staff hanging. Transfer Center Assistant Frances Fon was one of six CSEA union employees scheduled for layoff until a last-minute agreement before the Nov. 18 Board of Trustees meeting. If she had been laid off, students would be left a with do-it-yourself Transfer Center. Fon’s reaction to this was to calm down, saying everything would be alright with the do-it-by-yourself setup, but it would be more difficult, requiring students to take even more initiative for their education. For dedicated students and people who like to work hard, questions about transfering are easier asked than answered. Fon’s advice for this was that, “Whether there is a center or not, take advantage of your education.” Unfortunately, for some people just getting to Ohlone has been a struggle. Often it is the only means by which they can earn a higher education. Fon said that many of these students will end up falling through the cracks if the Transfer Center is not kept open. It’s unfortunate, but that is the reality of the situation. Although the information provided by the Transfer Center is available in other locations, finding it is not always easy. A place to start looking for information if all else fails, is the website www.assist.org – to figure out what courses are transferable between schools, or, to find a major or discover what you are best at, go to www.eureka.com. A great asset of the Transfer Center, Fon’s job revolves around helping students move on to institutions of higher education. Fon’s duties consist of creating workshops and organizing their materials, arranging Transfer Day, an event when colleges come to Ohlone to present their schools, with representatives eager to help potential transfer students. Fon can answer virtually all questions, and if by chance she does not know an answer she can talk on the phone with the college-in-question’s representative to find the answer. She is also in charge of helping you decide on a major, exploring it and finding where to apply to get it, and answering the ever-present question, “What to do next?” Last year alone, Fon guided 3,800 students with a to do list, ranging from simple transfer questions to assistance writting personal statements. These students are mostly first generation college students whose entire knowledge base consists of what they themselves have discovered here at Ohlone. Fon’s fear is that many of these students could end up falling through the cracks if there is not someone there to help them. If her job was reduced to part time, answering questions for students of all backgrounds would be severely delayed, or might not happen altogether. Fon’s job is essential to the success of Ohlone students,helping them transfer to a obtain a bachelors degree. The administrators’ notion of reducing or eliminating her job made Fon think, “I wonder if helping students transfer was a priority for this college.” She is definitely not the only person pondering this, many students are as well. What would closing the Transfer Center say about Ohlone? What institutional values would it reinforce in the minds of the Ohlone community? But Fon’s job is safe for the next six months. You may have seen ASOC petitioning to keep the Center open, and thanks to their efforts, the center will remain at your service, for now.
By SHANTALL PRADO
Staff writer
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