Students, officials call center a success

Students, officials call center a success
By Tony Burchyns/Times-Herald staff writer
Article Launched: 07/06/2008

Enrollment is healthy, students are satisfied and except for a few minor problems - like doorknobs not working - it's been a successful first year for Solano Community College's Vallejo Center, officials and students say.

"We had a great year," said Jerry Kea, the center's director. "We've met all our expectations."

The $22.3 million satellite campus opened in September. An initial enrollment of about 1,000 students jumped to 2,000 in the spring, Kea said. The same number is expected to re-enroll next semester, which begins Aug. 18.

"We know there are more high school graduates coming," Kea said.

It stands to reason that the center is doing well. Voters passed Measure G bonds in 2002 to build the facility on Columbus Parkway.

The building includes 15 classrooms and modern computer, chemistry and math labs. It offers general education classes, basic skills courses to get students up to speed and a pre-nursing program.

At 43,000 square feet, it's roomier than the John F. Kennedy Library's basement, where SCC previously offered off-campus classes.

"It's got state-of-the-art equipment ... it's fantastic," said 19-year-old Richard Garcia of Vallejo, who decided to attend community college locally to save money before transferring to a four-year school.

"Basically, with the way things are going with the economy, it made sense to go somewhere locally," Garcia said.

Bianca Duvall, 19, is taking a summer biology class at the center. She said she's impressed with the lab, and happy she doesn't have to travel from her Benicia home to Fairfield.

"It's a lot more convenient than going to Fairfied," Duvall said. "And the building is really up to date. The labs have all the materials we could need, and students can check out laptops."

The personal feel of the center is part of its appeal, Kea said. He also said he's been surprised that daytime classes are filling up as fast as night classes.

"A number of students were going to Napa, Diablo (Valley) and Contra Costa," Kea said. "They are finding the new center located here is more convenient."

Officials had to iron out a few "incidental" wrinkles after the new building opened, including doors not working, Kea said. Many of those issues were fixed before spring semester, when class offerings were expanded.

"We offered a full slate of classes in the spring and we plan to do the same in the fall," Kea said. "But we are always fine-tuning the curriculum based on community interests and needs."

• E-mail Tony Burchyns at tburchyns@thnewsnet.com or call 553-6831.