On Dec. 17, students can look forward to a decision from the Board of Trustees in favor of beginning to issue the certificates they’ve been waiting for.

According to John Gerhold, president of the academic senate at Bakersfield College, the academic senate presidents from BC, Cerro Coso and Porterville Colleges met with Board Chancellor Sandra Serrano the same night as the Board of Trustees meeting to work out an acceptable proposal to the board.

“We met with Chancellor Serrano, and we ironed out the new format called ‘Certificates of Proficiency’ which will be the answer to the problem we’ve faced up to this point,” said Gerhold. “This will be placed onto the Dec. 17 agenda, which we have assurances will be approved, and certificates will most likely start being issued by the end of the year. The absolute latest we’re looking at for certificate issuance will be mid-January.”

Certificates are awarded to students who have successfully completed coursework in a specific area of study.

John Rodgers, vice president of the Board of Trustees, voiced his concern during the regular board meeting on Nov. 5.

“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,” said Rodgers. “I’d like to see something by December and to have all this fixed by the end of the year.”

Serrano echoed Rodgers’ remarks during the same meeting.

“Our commitment is to a speedy resolution,” Serrano said. “Dragging this out would be an injustice to our students, and that’s unacceptable.”

Students aren’t sure, however, whether the new policy will take effect as quickly as promised.

“We’ll definitely have to wait and see,” said Sandra Cruz, BC student. “I’ve filled out my applications,and I really do hope to get the certificates by the end of the year.”