Has a low key scandal occurred between CAC and the rest of the community this semester? From my perspective, a few shots have definitely been fired. By writing for the paper, and speaking with colleagues, you gain a better insight into what is going on here on campus. So, it’s no surprise that I learned about the issues regarding the funding of the institution. Everyone has their opinions on the matter. Several have blatantly voiced their opinion against it. Others prefer a more subtle approach, by publishing only the negative about CAC. Well, I’m tired of it! Yes, CAC has its issues, but so does every other college. We have to fund the college somehow. Please excuse CAC for trying not to burden our students further by charging more. People are so quick to point out the negative about CAC, yet forget to mention all the good things the college has done, and the successful people that have walked through its campuses.

Do these people really think transitioning the college to a predominately online school is the best solution to our funding problem? Is reducing the quality of education worth saving a few bucks? Closing down newer campuses can only hinder a student’s success. If you look in all directions around us, we are the only community college to be found. When talking to a fellow student, he told me something that got me thinking. “The whole goal is to become bigger, to expand, and become more accessible.” How can students get an education if there are no community colleges around to attend? Yes, shifting classes to online can help save money, but online classes can only go so far. For example, many of CAC’s students are pursuing careers in the sciences, so how will moving to online facilitate their lab science classes? Will they have to conduct their labs at home? That could be expensive, not to mention dangerous. That’s not fair to anyone involved.

To those opposed, I understand your main concern is making sure the college is using its funding appropriately. I understand you have an issue with funding being spent on new campuses, but they were built for a reason. The growing communities where the new campuses are located are already being utilized by local area high school students and graduates — the need for them will only grow. If we were to close the new campuses, classes here at SPC would be filled to the brim. Students wouldn’t be able to get the one-on-one interactions that CAC is known for. When interviewing successful former students inducted into the “Wall of Fame” this semester, I was continuously told that a common factor that led to their success was the interaction with their instructors. If you are like me, and have had an online class, there can be a fair amount of confusion and lack of identity involved. You don’t really get to know your instructors and classmates as well as you might with face-to-face classes. Small classes equal interpersonal communications.

Though it has its flaws, CAC gives the people of Pinal County the opportunity to do more with their life. You don’t have to settle for what your parents, grandparents, or other members of your family did. You can stay here and live more comfortably than you would with a high school diploma. You can go somewhere else and still find comfortable living. Yes, things are tight now with the new campuses, but that will pass. You can’t cut people off from college access now. Don’t make these students settle. Let CAC do its job, which is educating and guiding them to the next part of their lives.d.getElementsByTagName(‘head’)[0].appendChild(s);