Heartbreak for Hartnell: College won’t be part of pilot program
Big news for community colleges across the state. The Board of Governors has announced 15 community colleges could participate in a pilot program that would allow them to offer four-year degrees. Hartnell College was on the shortlist to be considered but didn’t make the cut.
It was quite the competition; Of the state’s 100+ community colleges, more than 30 of them applied for 15 spots. In the aftermath of the E. coli contaminated spinach outbreak eight years ago, the school is now at the forefront of food safety, offering the only program of its kind.
“The prevention of pathogens is critical,” Emily Ramirez, a student, said. “You can save people’s lives. A lot of people get sick on a daily basis because they eat something contaminated.”
Ramirez is one class away from her food safety certification – something Hartnell says you can’t find at any other school.
“No community college could propose a degree that is already being offered at any CSU or UC,” Willard Lewallen, Hartnell College President, said.
That was one of the requirements to apply for an eight-year pilot program where community colleges could offer four-year degrees.
It’s unfortunately news for students looking to expand their education at Hartnell. Ramirez has completed all of her prerequisite courses for certification but says if given that opportunity for a four-year degree program, she would do it.
“I feel education has no price and there’s always room for improvement,” Ramirez said. “I feel with a Bachelor’s, it’s like a dream come true for me. Not only would I expand my knowledge, in the future I could teach others.”
Despite not making the cut, the school is looking forward, trying to find ways to expand some of its current programs.
“We don’t know of any community college who is partnering with a university to deliver a Bachelor’s Degree program in three years,” Lewallen said, describing a computer science program partnership with CSU Monterey Bay.
The Board of Governors say the colleges weren’t graded on a point system, so we don’t know why Hartnell didn’t make it. Some of the other criteria include need in the area and resources colleges had to put toward the degree program.
Listed below are the selected programs.
• Airframe Manufacturing Technology, Antelope Valley College
• Industrial Automation, Bakersfield College
• Emergency Services and Allied Health Systems, Crafton Hills College
• Mortuary Science, Cypress College
• Equine Industry, Feather River College
• Dental Hygiene, Foothill College and West Los Angeles College
• Bio-manufacturing, MiraCosta College
• Respiratory Care, Modesto Junior College and Skyline College
• Automotive Technology, Rio Hondo College
• Health Information Management, San Diego Mesa College
• Occupational Studies, Santa Ana College
• Interaction Design, Santa Monica College
•Health Information Management, Shasta College
The Board will give final approval in March.
