By Linh Ngoc Khanh Nguyen
CCC Journalism Program
BLACKWOOD – Some students are expressing unhappiness with Camden County College’s shuttle service, saying they have been left stranded and have arrived late to class because the shuttle could not fit everyone waiting for it during the morning rush hour.
The shuttle service between the Blackwood and Camden campuses began in 2018, after a student, Hecmarie Berrios, experienced difficulties traveling between the campuses. She started a petition to ask the college to implement the service. The petition received 300 signatures.
The college, the county and the South Jersey Transportation Authority worked together to implement the service. It is available from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday to Friday.
Demand for the shuttle service, which is free for all enrolled students, has increased over the years. A bus with 32 seats recently replaced a bus with 24 seats but some students are still having problems.
“It’s upsetting to watch the shuttle drive away because there’s no seat extra for me,” said nursing student Lan Nguyen.
Other students have had similar difficulties, especially during the critical 8:15 a.m. rush hour.
Each campus has a dedicated pick-up and drop-off point for the shuttle, which runs on a first-come, first-served basis. But at peak hours, the capacity and timetable have shown to be inadequate, resulting in crowding and students being left behind.
Demands for improvement are coming from students such as freshman Thu Ho, who depends on the shuttle to get to classes on the two campuses.
“I had to miss some really important lectures because I was unable to board the bus,” Ho stated. “And we need a bigger shuttle or more frequent runs to make space for everyone, especially during rush hour.”
In response to the mounting dissatisfaction, the college administration has asked affected students to seek assistance. Associate Dean for Student Services Jackie Tenuto has assured students the college is committed to addressing their concerns, stating, “If you experience an issue that results in your late arrival to a class at either campus due to a delay in the CCC Shuttle Service, please contact us for additional support.”
To guarantee a seat, the college is asking students to arrive early at the shuttle stops. Also, the Department of Public Safety is asking students to contact its office with any concerns they have with the shuttle service, especially any issues with capacity.