Diversity at FCC goes beyond race

What is the 'American culture?' Is it consumerism, fast food, faster cars, on-demand TV, English as a standard language?

Yet even these well deserved stereotypes do not include everyone, or even solid a majority of people.

"Culture affects how you see, shape, and interpret the world," said Beth Wengard, Anthropology Professor at Fresno City College.

Culture is "learned patterns, beliefs, and values," Wengard said. She said she tells her classes that cultures "share languages, symbolic communication, are adaptive, have patterns of shared norms and values- and all cultures change." She quickly added that culture is more than a definition in a textbook.

But what is culture as it relates to Fresno City College? According to the information on the Institutional Research page of State Center Community College District, FCC's student body is diverse and representative of various cultures and backgrounds. In the fall of 2008, of the total of 25,622 students enrolled at FCC, 8 percent are classified as African American descent, 1 percent are described as American Indian/Alaskan Native; 15 percent are Asian/Pacific Islander; 38 percent are Hispanic; 12 percent did not choose a racial or ethnic designation, and white/non-Hispanic constituted 26 percent of the college population.

Wengard describes her classes as being "microcosms of the valley," explaining that she sees people of different social economic groups, ethnic backgrounds varying levels of ability. "It is places like this, where many cultures are interacting that you get a clear idea about your own culture," she said.

Wengard said that when people of varying cultures come together, they in turn create a unique culture. FCC president, Cynthia Azari said that the diversity of the Central Valley was what drew her here.

"There are several ethnic and racial groups in the Fresno County area, and the demographics at FCC reflect those of the community. I wanted to come to Fresno City College because I sincerely appreciate the diversity here," Azari said.

Despite what many students on the FCC campus may think, culture is not limited to ethnicity. The definition of culture varies based upon the source. Its broad scope encompasses many nuances that make it difficult to define the word concretely. Many identifiable cultures and unrepresented subcultures can be found on FCC campus. For some, culture is a means of inclusion and for others, exclusion.

Azari said, "Meeting the needs of a diverse student body requires programs and services that help students meet their educational needs as well as personal needs."

According to records, some disparities exist in the success rates of different groups of FCC students. In the fall of 2008, White/non-Hispanic had the best chance of succeeding at FCC than any other group. With an average GPA of 2.63, this group had a successful completion rate of 72.56. African-American students had the lowest GPA at 1.97 with a completion rate of 51.04. American Indians, Hispanics, and Asians fell in the middle with a GPA ranging from 2.10 to 2.34.

"We are making efforts to increase retention by providing student services, including tutoring and counseling," President Azari said. "Many first generation students face difficulties as a result of economic or educational disadvantaged backgrounds." She said students "also need to take an active role in their education by setting realistic goals and seeking assistance when they first begin to fall behind."

Fresno City College has several programs exist on campus to provide services to students from traditionally disadvantaged backgrounds. These programs include SYMBAA - for young black men; PUENTE - for Hispanics; IDILE - for African Americans; USEAA - for South East Asians.

Students with plans for transferring to a four-year university and are eligible for English 125 during the fall semester can apply to be part of one of these programs after meeting with the program counselor. Approximately 30-35 students are selected to form a cohort. During their time in with the program, students take English 125/126/1A and counseling classes. They take trips to CSUs and UCs and perform community service together. The students also have the benefit of having a dedicated counselor that meets with them regularly. For students who come from families without college backgrounds, the programs strive to help the student make the transition from high school to FCC to a university.

"At first I wanted to be a pediatrician, but after volunteering at Stone Soup, I realized I really love working with kids and wanted to be a teacher. The counselor helped me pick out classes I would need, and we made a two year plan," says Amy Mou, who is in the USEAA program.

Additionally, Disabled Students Programs and Services (DSP&S) staff work with a unique culture. Leslie Silva describes the disabled culture as being unified by acceptance, networking, and self-advocacy. As technology and media exposure increases, groups of people with a variety of disabilities have networked with each other. The various versions of the ADA have aided in public awareness and celebrities such as Christopher Reeves, Michael J. Fox, and many others have helped develop mainstream acceptance.

Azari said that FCC's diversity gives opportunities for greater understanding and celebration of differences. The college achieves that goal "by holding events to celebrate various cultures such as activities for Asian American Month and African-American History Month," Azari said. "I believe that if we learn about other cultures we learn about ourselves, and grow into community members who respect individuals and value cultural differences."