PAC Student Media

By Dolores Fischer Pulse Staff Reporter Alamo College’s graduation rate ranks below the national average according to a 2015 study done by The Aspen Institute, an educational and policy studies organization. Alamo Colleges scored in the 27 percentile compared to the national average of 39 percent on our three-year graduation and transfer rate. Arianna Lay,…

By Khrystyna Snyder Pulse Staff Reporter At the Alamo Colleges Board of Trustees meeting on March 22, 2016, a majority of trustees did not agree with a proposal on tuition changes as they considered them a tuition increase. The possibility of changing tuition and fees for Fiscal Year 2016-2017 was tabled until July or October;…

By Fernanda Sanchez Pulse Staff Reporter Writers often struggle to make a living from their art. Marie Bullock, the founder of the Academy of American Poets, expressed concern over the absence of financial support given to poets. The Academy of American Poets inaugurated National Poetry Month in 1996. For the past 20 years, NPM has…

By Katelynn Garcia Pulse Staff Reporter Palo Alto College prides itself on providing high-quality education to the South Side community. Since the first classes were offered in 1985, more than 100,000 individuals throughout San Antonio, Bexar County and the surrounding region have been educated here. PAC celebrated its 30th anniversary with a combination of events…

By James B. Miller Jr. Pulse Staff Reporter An ever-growing population of students places its faith in ratings websites when determining class schedules, despite concerns over accuracy. Ratemyprofessors.com is the largest college and professor rating website on the web. In terms of traffic, it surpasses any other competitor by nearly 120,000 unique viewers per semester.…

By Beverley Garcia Pulse Staff Reporter College students have a lot on their plate in choosing their major, deciding how many classes to take and if they want to transfer to another college or university. When they have these decisions to make, advisers are there to help. Palo Alto College’s advisers are there for students…

By Victoria Wilson Pulse Staff Reporter With the 2016 Presidential Election six months away, registered voters have to choose the candidate who best represents their values, which is easier said than done. Anthony Benavides, a PAC graduate, supports U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders the most. “Sanders has a spent his entire political career working toward reformation…

By Isidro Medina Pulse Staff Reporter Online streaming services like Netflix and Hulu entice students to cut the cable cord with offers of cheaper prices, high-quality content and convenient access on a wide range of devices. “I barely even watch [cable] TV anymore. The only show I care about watching is The Walking Dead, and…

By Bianca Garcia  Pulse Staff Reporter Don’t let the idea of date night expenses ruin your plans. With a little imagination and frugality, unforgettable escapades at minimal costs are possible. Students often undergo financial stress because of money issues, many times sabotaging their dating life. According to debtanatomy.com, a typical full course meal and a…

By Karenna Reyna Pulse Staff Reporter Suicide is the second leading cause of death among college students, according to the National Mental Health Association, with the number one cause being accidents related to vehicle and alcohol incidents. Suicide rates have tripled among young adults since the 1950s with more than 1,000 suicides per year, according…

By Kevin M. Johnson Pulse Staff Reporter According to a recent study conducted by Time Magazine, academic cheating is on the rise. This may create a big impact on the success of students. Danny Hernandez, a sophomore English major at Palo Alto, thinks that cheating is not the easy way out. “You might get away…

By Karenna Reyna Pulse Staff Reporter Spring Break 2016 is here! If your plans are local, San Antonio and the surrounding areas offer plenty of activities that won’t break the bank. A great ‘stay-cation’ would be a visit to the San Antonio missions, recently named a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Four of the five missions,…

By Bianca Garcia Pulse Staff Reporter Not all Palo Alto college students are engaging in a typical part-time job. Some are aspiring young entrepreneurs thinking creatively to make a name for themselves. Tim Sanchez-Vega, an 18-year-old YouTube vlogger (@LegitLooksForLife), began his YouTube career at the age of 11, re-interpreting movie scenes while a friend recorded…

By Victoria Wilson Pulse Staff Reporter It’s no secret that in light of the rising conflicts in the Middle East, some people have become wary of those of the Muslim faith. Governor Greg Abbott made it clear in his letter to President Obama that he did not approve of Syrian refugees calling Texas home. In…

By James B. Miller Jr. Pulse Staff Reporter A comprehensive Alamo Colleges SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats) analysis for 2015-2016 has revealed low participation from two key stakeholder groups: students and faculty. The analysis, which serves to identify internal and external factors that affect Alamo Colleges, is used to articulate and establish strategic plans moving…

By Dolores Fischer Pulse Staff Reporter The hum of treadmills, the clanging of free weights and the pounding of balls on the gymnasium floor are all sounds that resonate much more frequently in fitness centers at the beginning of each New Year. Individuals set a goal of becoming a new person in the New Year.…

By Khrystyna Snyder Pulse Staff Reporter The University of Northern Iowa has modified its Bridge Scholarship, decreasing the amount of the scholarship significantly. The Bridge Scholarship has helped 220 non-resident students receive their bachelor’s degree from the University of Northern Iowa since 1998. Currently, 51 students participate in the program. According to Charles Garcia, certified…