Community Forums Dec. 3 & 11 to Discuss Statewide Legislation and Lifelong Learning
Cabrillo College today announces it will expand the scope of its very successful Cabrillo Extension Program to become the Cabrillo Extension and Community Education Center. This expansion is in response to action by the California Legislature and the California Colleges Board of Governors to focus funding from the state of California on courses and programs aligned with statewide enrollment priorities, which do not include classes for personal enrichment or lifelong learning. The newly expanded Cabrillo Extension and Community Education Center will be committed to serving the interests and needs of Santa Cruz County’s lifelong learners.
On December 3 and December 11, Cabrillo College will hold community-wide forums to inform Santa Cruz County residents of this new legislation that limits the repeatability of successfully completed courses and to discuss the development and expansion of our courses to fully meet the needs of our community. The forum dates and locations are as follows:
Tuesday & Thursday, December 3, 5 – 6 p.m. Cabrillo Aptos Campus, Samper Recital Hall 6500 Soquel Drive, Aptos
Wednesday, December 11, 5 – 6 p.m. Cabrillo College Watsonville Center, Room D101 318 Union Street, Watsonville
Cabrillo College encourages members of the diverse Santa Cruz County community to attend these forums and to provide input on how the newly expanded Cabrillo Extension and Community Education Center can continue providing a rich and robust program while also expanding to meet new and emerging community needs. Community members attending the forums are asked to consider the following:
- What they would like to see developed.
- What they might want to add as experts in respective fields.
- What types of quality measures they believe will continue to provide the best instruction and the best programs for our diverse and wonderful community.
Four years ago, the California Legislature and the California Colleges’ Board of Governors urged community colleges to focus funding from the State of California on courses and programs that were in line with enrollment priorities set by the State.
Classes of focus for California Community Colleges are those that meet the educational needs of students attending college to acquire basic skills, skills required to enter or advance in employment, complete a certificate program, earn an associate degree, and or prepare to transfer to a four- year college or university. Classes primarily for personal enrichment, or lifelong learning, are the lowest priority for state funding.
“This focus for our resources, along with the legislated change mandating that classes successfully completed cannot be repeated, restrict our ability to offer the range of learning experiences that align with the lifelong learning interests of our community,” said Dr. Laurel Jones, president and superintendent of Cabrillo College. “Our new Cabrillo Extension and Community Education Center is committed to serving the interests and needs of our community.“
“Cabrillo Extension has historically been a very successful part of Cabrillo College,” said Dr. Kathleen Welch, vice president of Instruction at Cabrillo College.
“Taking a proactive approach to this legislation, the College has recently hired a new Director and Program Coordinator, who have together developed 50 new programs and classes, specifically in partnership with our Visual, Applied and Performing Arts division.”
Some of those new programs and classes include:
- The Summer Cabrillo Arts program (9 two-week intensive workshops)
- All new Winter/Spring/Fall Arts workshops (8 classes each semester)
- The ‘Business of Arts’ Seminar Series
- A Summer Performing Arts program geared towards ages 50+ (12 workshops)
Each program was designed with the intent of serving students who have reached the maximum limits on their repeatability or who wished to go deeper into the concepts of a specific topic. Currently under development are new courses in art, music, theater, dance, and health & wellness, as well as all-new youth afterschool and summer programs, possibly including a pre-college arts academy.
The expansion of Cabrillo Extension to become the Cabrillo Extension and Community Education Center is envisioned to have a full contingent of new classes by fall semester 2014. The Cabrillo Extension and Community Education Center is a fee-based, self-supported program that will meet the needs of our community both immediately and into the future. Cabrillo College recognizes that the arts are a substantial part of the vitality of our community, and remains committed to offering a robust program that will continue to bring value to the members of its community.
Cabrillo College is a leading California community college serving Santa Cruz County with locations in Aptos, Scotts Valley and Watsonville. Founded in 1959, Cabrillo College is a dynamic, diverse and responsive educational community that is dedicated to helping all students achieve their academic, career, and personal development goals.