About 800 Bakersfield College students are getting a lesson in disappointment.
They've completed all of their courses but the college cannot award certificates of completion or achievement because it failed to recognize a change in the law.
Student Sandra Cruz told the Kern Community College District Board of Trustees Thursday of her personal triumphs in earning her certificate and of her disappointment in not getting it.
"I've come a long way to continue attending Bakersfield College," Cruz said. "Living at the homeless shelter and walking to Bakersfield College. Riding the bus until 10:30 at night to go to school to get these classes done."
William Paca completed all of his welding courses last spring but didn't get his certificate.
"One of the plusses to having your certificate is you get your foot in the door at some companies and it also opens the door up for an increase in the wages that you get," Paca explained.
School officials admit they dropped the ball.
"There was a rules change," spokeswoman Amber Chaing said. "We weren't on top of it as we should've been."
The new rule says short credit programs leading to a certificate "may not be referred to as a certificate of achievement, a certificate of completion, or a certificate of competency unless approved by the state chancellor."
Bakersfield College is trying to fix the problem, but Chaing says its unlcear when students will be awarded their certificates. However, she says in most cases transcript are enough for employers.
"Transcripts are the best way to prove your education to an employer," Chain explained.
Engineering and Industrial Technology Professor Steve Hageman argues certificates mean more, and students are suffering because of the school's mistake.
"For a lot of students it's very important," Hageman said. "It means the difference between an advancement at work or getting a job or not getting a job."
College trustees say they want to solve this problem as soon as possible.
"As long as we are in compliance and it sounds to me like we should be in compliance we need to fulfill our part after the students fulfill their part," Vice President John Rodgers said.
The board hopes to start awarding certificates again by December.
