For the past year and a half we’ve been covering the troubles facing City College of San Francisco – the college has until this coming July to meet a set of requirements, or its accreditation could be revoked. This could leave thousands of students in the lurch-- City College is California’s largest community college. One of the largest in the country, in fact, with enrollment between 70 and 80 thousand students. Later this week, we’re going to devote an entire show to this issue, but today we’re bringing you the story of just one of City College’s many students.
Carl Irons, is a graduate of City College of San Francisco, and a participant in the Second Chance program for formerly incarcerated students.
“I’m an alumni now, it feels strange to say that-- an alumni of CCSF, currently a student at SFSU, majoring in political science.”
Irons took part in City College’s Second Chance program, which provides formerly incarcerated students with help-- ranging from money for books and bus passes, to academic counseling and sometimes even personal computers. Irons says his plan is to get a masters degree in public administration, and eventually work in the non-profit sector. But the clarity Irons has today is a long way from where he started.
Click the audio player above to hear the entire story.