November 8, 2004

Written by Larry Becker, Executive Director of University Relations

The presidents of Riverside Community College District and La Sierra University met on Wednesday, October 20, for the first of a series of planned "Presidents' Fireside Chats" to promote academic discourse and greater awareness of educational issues.

"Public and Private Institutions Working Together as a Resource to Serve Students and the Community," was the focus of a discussion between Salvatore G. Rotella, Ph.D., (RCCD), and Lawrence T. Geraty, Ph.D., (La Sierra). Their presentations took place in RCC’s state of the art Digital Library and Learning Resource Center.

While recognizing that differences between the two institutions’ approaches to education exist, both Dr. Rotella and Dr. Geraty identified areas of similarity between the two institutions where increased cooperation between RCC and La Sierra University are appropriate and desirable.

Both institutions serve many students from the Inland Empire region, and the region’s increasing diversity means quite naturally that the student bodies are becoming equally diverse.

Increasing need for remedial curriculum designed to meet the needs of underprepared students also challenges the leadership at both schools.

“In many high schools there are few college prep and advanced placement courses and even fewer Counselors, “ said Dr. Geraty. “On the other hand, probably as with RCC, some of our students can successfully compete with the best anywhere, so in terms of ability and preparedness, we run the gamut.” 

In pointing out differences between the two schools, Dr. Geraty discussed the disparity in size between the two enrollments, the differences in how the two schools are financed, and the fact that La Sierra University is and will continue to be a strongly faith-based institution.

“Many aspects of Adventist lifestyle are influential on our campus,” Dr. Geraty affirmed. “So while the perception may therefore be that LSU is only for Adventists, that is not at all the case. The fact is that between 30 and 40 percent of our students are not Adventists, but attracted by our location, convenience, the quality of education we offer, the perception that we may have the inside track to medicine or dentistry at LLU, and even because our more conservative lifestyle is attractive to many parents, if not to the students themselves!”

“The unique challenge of faith related institutions is that you must be good in two worlds, not just one!  But our contention is that if you achieve philosophically and spiritually, it will positively affect your life in the secular world,” Dr. Geraty concluded.

Because both schools operate an honors program within their curriculum, the presidents proposed future joint meetings between the two institutions’ faculty in those areas. Also, there could be visits to the RCC campus by La Sierra University faculty.

The two schools are also discussing the idea of involving La Sierra University and several other Inland Empire private universities in the Riverside Scholars program, which would allow current RCC students to make a more seamless transfer into a program at one of the area four-year universities with affordable financial packages already in place.

“LSU is definitely not for everyone, but it could be beneficial to a lot more Riverside students, including transfer students from RCC, than currently register on our campus,” Dr. Geraty said. “Most counselors at community colleges believe (WRONGLY) that price and cost are the same and thus, independent colleges are not affordable.  Our conversation this afternoon provides an opportunity to change that.