Cerritos College will begin automated pre-requisite checking using Falcon Phone and Falcon Web on April 21. Also, the new Student Portal web page will provide students with added information online.

When a student adds a class, either by Falcon Phone or through the web, the system will first check if the class has a pre-requisite.

If there is a pre-requisite for the class, the system will then check test scores and transcripts for that pre-requisite.

If the pre-requisite is found then the student is allowed to add the course. If not, an error is generated.

Admissions and Records Administrative Dean Stephanie Marguia said that currently the error would say, “Requisite not met.”

“I want to personalize that a little more,” Marguia added.

The error will eventually have information about the course students need to meet the pre-requisite.

Diana Bejarano, social welfare major, said that she supports the new system.

“It’s best to do it that way,” she said.

But other students do not agree.

“It’s really gonna mess me up,” Jonathan Ramirez, business major, said, “I only need a few more classes and [the pre-requisite checking system] might mean I can’t get into a class I need.”

“I’m gonna be here longer,” he added.

According to Marguia, another source of aid for students will be the student portal web page, which will include allowing students to change their address online and to access student accounts.