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Back to School â€" Cabrillo College Fall Semester Begins
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Back to School â€" Cabrillo College Fall Semester Begins
By Judith Wellner
As summer wanes, leaves turn and children go back to school, area colleges are also readying for the onset of fall classes. At Cabrillo, the campus is one year closer to completing a multi-million dollar modernization plan, and boasts a variety of new programs, from new language courses to technology programs. There are also offerings through Cabrillo College’s extension program, including such far-flung topics as how to travel and retire in Mexico to the history of the Ku Klux Klan in Santa Cruz County.
However, one thing hasn’t changed. Students must register, although there are a number of new steamlined options to sign up for courses, like on-line registration and registration by phone. And some students are already registered.
Since April, students heading to Cabrillo College have been registering for fall classes.
“Enrollment opens early so students have time to get their classes, figure out their schedule, and visit their counselor,” said Mary Planding, Director of Marketing and Communications for Cabrillo College.
For those who didn’t register early, there’s still time. But deadlines are looming.
The fall semester at Cabrillo College will run between Aug. 28 and Dec. 16. The last day for early registration is Aug. 23, while late registration will run through Sept. 9.
What’s New…
Each semester, the college offers some new courses.
“Deciding on which courses to offer each semester is a fairly complex process,” said Planding. “It is partly determined by community demand. We rely on surveys, questionnaires, community feedback. … We also have to consider whether we have the staff to teach a particular course,” she added.
This semester offers many exciting new classes, including a beginning Chinese class, computer science classes, a bilingual welding class, and health care classes.
“These computer classes are introductory, and they help people who don’t usually use computers learn how to use them safely, how to protect their privacy,” said Planding.
Such classes have been around for years, but now they are updated, and they focus on teaching people who use email, surf the web and shop online to use applications correctly as well as protect themselves against identity theft.
Another new opportunity is to study towards becoming a state certified alcohol and drug counselor. The Human Services division at Cabrillo is launching an Alcohol and Drug Studies program offering five courses. Classes provide an introduction to chemical dependency issues and also approach the psychological and ethical questions around alcohol and drug use.
New medical imaging courses are also on the timetable. These classes provide continuing education for licensed and certified technologists in radiology, ultrasound, and nuclear medicine.
This semester, just as with previous ones, Cabrillo College instructors offer classes that are prerequisites for higher-level courses.
“Those classes are offered much more often, because students need the credits to move on” said Planding.
Improvements And Challenges
Construction is still ongoing at the Cabrillo campus. The new Student Services building is scheduled to open in the summer of 2007. The new area will host the student senate as well as matriculation and orientation offices.
“Downstairs we’ll have a 7,000-square-foot bookstore, three times the size of the current one,” said Planding.
She added that construction does not create parking problems.
“Students are worried about parking, but parking is actually great,” she said.
The college is offering free parking in student lots through Sept. 9. Parking restrictions will be enforced afterwards.
Planding said that students or would-be students can also get help planning their goals at Cabrillo College with a counselor. She emphasized that seeing a counselor is useful, especially for first-time students. Counselors help students define their career paths and determine which classes they have to take to reach their goals. They help them create a plan and make decisions.
“Statistical data show that students who consult a counselor are 90 percent more likely to complete their studies and reach their educational goals. This is true for vocational courses as well as general education,” said Planding.
The counseling service is free, optional and highly recommended. An express counseling system is also available.
“Students can come in with a question and get a quick response within 10 to 15 minutes,” said Planding.
The college will also open a new parking structure in December, on the upper side of campus, which will add 400 new parking spaces.
If students choose to take the bus, they can purchase tickets at the Cabrillo College Bank in building 100. Passes are $55 and allow students to ride the bus to and from Cabrillo for the full semester.
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