A FIRST AMENDMENT PUBLICATION Woodland Hills, California
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Wednesday, May 22, 2024
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Volume 140 - Issue 13
The future of equine science
Discussions ongoing for the program’s potential pathways
By Christian Castellanos Managing Editor
P
ierce College’s founder completed his vision of teaching about agriculture when the Clarence W. Pierce School of Agriculture opened its doors to its first class of students in 1947. But now, more than 75 years later, a piece of his vision for Pierce has become murkier.
Recommendations discussed in a February Academic Senate meeting are being considered to help sustain the future of the Equine Science program on campus. A Program Viability Review Report discussed in November 2023 listed the three recommendations. The first is a collaboration between the equine science and veterinary science faculty to revise the curriculum.
The second is ensuring a constant cadre of horses for fall and spring terms, and the third is supporting the maintenance of the Equestrian Center and equine science facilities through human and financial resources, which also includes community partnerships. In a separate February interview, Interim President Ara Aguiar said she supported three recommendations during the
Academic Senate meeting and is looking “into the matter one area at a time,” so that there is a curriculum to package and market. “You can’t position a product unless your product is ready,” Aguiar said. “And then you can create an idea in your marketing tools and a concept that the consumer can see.” Heidi Paul, co-author of the Fall 2021 Equine Science Program Assessment and Recommendations report, is glad the report is being paid attention to, and also said the faculty
has had little contact with the administration regarding opening up the full roster of classes—most of which have been archived. “It seems to be kind of a hitand-miss, and they are missing a lot of classes,” said Paul, an adjunct faculty member for the equine science program, who sees the difficulty students are having in completing their certificates due to limited classes. “Some of these kids are taking four or five years to get through what should have been a two-year program.” According to the report, costs Story continues on page 4.
Christian Castellanos / Roundup News Equine science major Anna Smith works on groundwork with Mark during a Beginning Equine Training class (ANML SC 630) in the Equestrian Center at Pierce College in Woodland Hills, Calif., on May 3, 2024. Smith, a sophomore who started the program in 2021, wanted administration to keep classes available to complete graduation requirements. “It’s been a long process for a lot of people,” said Smith, who found it difficult to sign up for the beginning horse training course because it is not offered every semester. “People have been here longer than me, too.”
NEWS
CAMPUS LIFE
PHOTO ESSAY
8th Annual Speech Tournament returns to campus
Applied Music Program Recital
Transfer Celebration and UCLA/ CSUN Day
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Benjamin Hanson / Roundup News
Melanie Jurado / Roundup News
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Karla Delgado / Roundup News