Crashing classes on the first day is a routine that produces fickle results for many, but it has recently become easier due to the addition of courses to the schedule.

The EC Facebook page advertises “nearly 200 classes added for fall.” Along with the 50 classes added in the summer course, a lot of slack will be afforded to a campus that had gotten used to making due with cuts semester after semester.

“In years past, they would have called it a growth, but for three years they cut spending, so let’s call it a restoration,” Rory Natividad, dean of health science, said.

Overcrowding and the inability to get into essential classes was beginning to discourage many students.

“We want enrollment to go back up,” Natividad added.  “We want to serve our community, so we scattered 250 more classes around all of the divisions.”

The changes have been fairly noticeable with students being able to, not only walk into a class and add on the spot, but even sign up online on the day of class.

“A lot of classes are still open on the site,” Aysha Shaikh, a student worker at the info desk, said on the second day of the summer course. “People who are even just applying to the campus are still able to get their G.E. (general education) classes.”

Classes have been added to specific areas to create space, but not enough to create waste.

Natividad said that too many empty seats wouldn’t be productive, so the funds went to help the most impacted areas, “especially in G.E. classes.”

Students seem to be taking full advantage of the new-found space.

“I just added my class this summer. I had no problem,” Brian Suitt, 20, electrical engineering major, said. “People were just dropping into class and they got in.”

Students have a guess as to where the funds are coming from in a time where perennial cuts were expected.

“I believe Prop 30 is to be thanked,” Aysha Shaikh said.

The Prop which was passed last fall semester may be partially to thank, but there are many factors at work in the improvement of EC’s financial situation.

“We’re in a growth mode,” Natividad said. “Growth comes from the state. It comes from various sources.”