Students voice likes, dislike about college

By Chris Lusk, Editor

An informal poll across campus showed students know what they like and dislike about OCCC, and are not afraid to talk about it.

Quality education is what students like best, and inadequate parking what they like least about the college, according to a small sampling of about two dozen students.

Other likes included: the Aquatic Center, low tuition cost, small class size, the coffee shop, friendly environment and great facilities.

Dislikes include the small commons areas, lack of campus-sponsored activities, long lines, cafeteria prices and confusing classroom locations.

Many students also approved of the growing diversity in the student body.

“[I like OCCC because] it’s a diverse school,” said freshman Ana Perez. “We have lots of different cultures and age groups. That makes it special.”

With the college’s quest to continually increase campus diversity, this observation from students came as pleasant news for President Paul Sechrist.

“With an increasingly global society, it is important for us to understand and appreciate the diversity that not only exists here in Oklahoma but also throughout our world,” Sechrist said.

“Creating an atmosphere on campus that welcomes all people — students, faculty, staff, guests — has resulted in increases in diversity among our students and also among our employees.

“In the end, I believe the increase in diversity will help more students from all backgrounds succeed as students and succeed as global citizens.”

Most students reported their teachers are what make the college enjoyable.

Theater arts major Elizabeth Shultz said she appreciates the quality of instruction she receives from her professors.

“The teachers,” Shultz said, “are very understandable and willing to work with students in order for them to get the best results from the class.”

Eden Simon, physical therapy major, echoed these statements.

“I like it here because the school is small and the teachers are really helpful,” Simon said.

When told about student appreciation for them, professors expressed their delight.

Accounting professor Kayla Fessler was thrilled to hear the student comments, but was not overly surprised.

“Based on the people I work with, I think [the student answers] are true,” Fessler said.

“I believe we have a very qualified and caring faculty.”

Aside from the professors themselves, many students listed the quality of education they receive as the most enjoyable feature of the college.

“Not only are our professors extremely nice and helpful,” sophomore Marcia Cooper said, “but they provide us with a high quality education.

“We have such great facilities and small class sizes, it seems to maximize what students get from their teachers.”

But not all students shared these feelings regarding college employees.

Sophomore Samir Elyou-bi raised the concern of a shortage of academic advisers, saying there was not a proper number on campus to work closely with the students.

“I do not think that our advisers spend quality time with the students,” Elyoubi said.

“More advisers would help this.”

Based on student responses, parking was the most criticized aspect of the college.

A majority of students questioned pointed to the stresses of parking, especially in the morning.

Business major R.J. Williams said parking was his least favorite thing about the college.

“I know that we don’t have the problems like the larger schools,” Williams said, “but our parking situation is pretty messy at times. I’ve lived by the college for five years, and I’m always seeing big building projects and expansion of the college, but I don’t ever hear about expansion of our parking lots.

“As our campus grows, shouldn’t our available parking grow also?”

When asked to name their dislikes about the college, other students said they liked everything about the college.

One student said poor cell phone reception was the only negative she could think of.

Editor Chris Lusk can be reached at editor@occc.edu.

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