An informational meeting hosted by Des Moines Area Community College (DMACC) took place during regular class periods on Monday, Jan. 12. The gathering was hosted in the school’s Warrior Zone and aimed to inform students about what to expect for the upcoming semester.
The meeting was held during two periods: third and sixth hour. With Norwalk holding the largest number of students in the metro taking DMACC classes, the Warrior Zone was full of students. However, some students said that a better approach to the meeting structure could have been employed.
Lanessa Montejo, a junior, said there were both positive and negative aspects of the meeting.
“The meeting itself was quite informative,” Montejo said. “I learned new information and things about the DMACC Canvas program I didn’t know about. However, I believe it would have been better if students could choose from different time slots.”
Montejo suggested alternative scheduling ideas, such as hosting the meeting during lunch periods or offering an online version.
“That way, students who are interested can still get the information without disrupting everyone else’s classes,” she said.
Administrators urged students to attend, highlighting that the presentation was intended to assist them in preparing for life after high school, especially as college application deadlines draw near for upperclassmen.
For certain students, the scheduling of the meeting made attendance more feasible. Payton Travis, a junior, mentioned that holding the meeting during school hours boosted student attendance.
“I doubt as many people would have attended if it were held after school,” Travis said. “Many students have jobs or sports commitments. Having it during class time made it easier to join.”
Conversely, other students expressed concerns about losing crucial instructional time. Hannah Depriest, a junior juggling advanced classes, said that the meeting added extra pressure.
“I understand how important the information is, especially for juniors and seniors, but skipping class isn’t the best option,” Depriest said. “Some teachers attempted to adjust, but you still miss out on explanations and discussions that can’t be done later.”
