In its commitment to maintaining an efficient learning environment, Los Medanos College is continuing its stance on the long-standing no-audit policy.

“It’s always been the policy that we don’t allow audits,” said Head of Admissions, Robin Armour, “A very big reason is that auditing is basically a paid sitting.”

Auditing is a practice where a student may pay for and enroll in a class without the benefit of receiving credit or an overall grade. Students who audit are not required to do assignments or take exams but will be able to experience the class for their own academic interests.

There are also cases where students may audit a class where all spots are taken in hopes of enrolling later by taking a spot that from a student who had dropped.

Due to the no-audit policy that is in place here at LMC, students are strongly discouraged from attending classes they are not enrolled in and professors are usually required to politely ask students not listed in their rosters to leave or direct students to admissions to fill out the appropriate forms to have them enrolled.

Having a no-audit policy may cause students to miss out on a chance to sit in on classes for academic gain and self-enrichment. But LMC Vice President Kevin Horan offers a take on the advantages the no-audit policy provides students here at LMC as a no-audit policy may mean professors can devote more time to aid enrolled students.

“For now, it makes sense to have a no-audit policy,” says Horan. “For the most part, our courses are full with credit-earning students. A no-audit policy enables instructors to focus their energy and attention on students matriculating towards a degree and/or certificate. Students that audit classes do not earn credit.”

Since audit students gain no school credit for their attendance or a grade consequence for not understanding the material, it would be likely that they may occupy a professor’s time by asking for help at the expense of an enrolled student who is also asking for the teachers aid while simultaneously taking the class for their degree.

Armour also agreed that a no-audit policy is beneficial for LMC due to the funding LMC receives from the state for enrolled students.

“I’m glad we don’t do audits because we maximize the money we get from the state,” says Armour, “The more students we have – the more money we get from the state – the more money we receive – the more we can offer to the campus. We could offer more sections for courses, faculty — hire more staff.”

“Funds we receive come from fully enrolled students,” concludes Armour, “Audits don’t get credit – LMC doesn’t get paid.”