After consultations with faculty and student representatives, the student feed on the Citrus College mobile app has been turned off.
An email sent on April 14 to students by the College said the student feed, commonly known as the wall, would be discontinued immediately.
The student feed was launched in the early months of 2020, right before the pandemic.
The email said the feed allowed students “to post messages and communicate virtually with their Citrus College peers.”
“When the College rapidly shifted to online and remote learning due to COVID-19 in March 2020, the wall was a place where the Citrus College community could offer resources and support to each other during an uncertain time,” said Richard Rams, vice president of student services, in an email.
However, after classes returned to in-person, complaints about the app by students, staff and faculty were brought to the attention of the administration.
Rams said the concerns raised about the feed were that it “had shifted away from serving as an information hub about college events, activities and student experience to a space that was filled with content and expressions that were not relevant to the Citrus College experience.”
On March 28, before the discontinuation of the student feed, the student body government, in a meeting, discussed the concerns that students and faculty have brought up about the student feed and voted to recommend it to be dissolved.
“Our Associated Students of Citrus College leaders and the College’s executive leadership team believe there are more efficient and effective methods available for students to interact virtually, especially since the College has developed and strengthened virtual support services to assist students and provide resources,” Rams said.
Rams said alternatives to the student feed include social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, Discord and Twitter.
Citrus College has an active Discord server that engages students.
Before its discontinuation, the feed facilitated the selling and buying of used books at cheaper rates among students.
Now that the feed is gone, some students worry about ways to get used textbooks.
However, Rams said, “students often use a variety of sources, including online retailers, for their needs.”
“Online retailers may provide potentially safer and secure methods to assist students with the acquisition of used texts as well as tools to complete financial transactions,” Rams said. “They may have policies to help protect buyers with return and resale incentives.”
The college said it intends to share more information about recommended improvements in enhancing students’ and the campus community’s virtual experience.
