HOLLISTER
– A program that links nearby California State Universities to
Gavilan College is quickly expanding in San Benito County.
HOLLISTER – A program that links nearby California State Universities to Gavilan College is quickly expanding in San Benito County.
By next spring, residents will be able to get a four-year degree from CSU Monterey Bay (CSUMB) without leaving town.
The University Center program, set up between CSUMB and Gavilan College, will allow students to earn a bachelor of science degree in business administration from CSUMB without the 45-minute commute, giving residents who may not be able to drive to Monterey each day a chance to further their education.
In Gilroy, the University Center brings San Jose State education courses to the Gavilan campus.
Three classes, at the Hollister campus, business 306, marketing and business 310, will be offered this fall. Business 307, finance and business 309, will be offered next spring. The courses that aren’t available at the Briggs Building in Hollister will be offered online.
“This will enable people to stay here and that’s great,” Gavilan Board Trustee Tom Breen said. “I think sometimes the people in Hollister feel ignored by Gav, being that it’s 15 minutes away and across the county line, but it all started here in Hollister.”
Three new upper-division higher education courses were offered in Gilroy this past semester, giving local residents the ability to enroll in the San Jose State courses without leaving Gilroy.
Gavilan College, originally San Benito Junior College in 1919, moved to the Hollister airport in the 1950s and later to Gilroy when the land was purchased for the new campus, according to Breen.
No one from CSUMB was available for comment, but Breen said with the raise in gas prices and time constraints of people’s jobs, he’s thrilled CSUMB has decided to work with Gavilan.
The cost to enroll in the upper division courses will be at the CSU level, and Breen is hopeful that more upper division programs will be brought to the Hollister site in the future.
“I hope we can continue to work with CSUMB and bring more programs because they bring jobs to the area,” he said.
Those who are interested in the University Center can make an appointment to meet with their counselor to learn the requirements for the major. There will be an orientation for both of the fall classes from 7 to 9 p.m. Aug. 24 at the Briggs Building, Room 3. For more information log onto business.CSUMB.edu or call the CSUMB School of Business Advising Center at (831) 582-4406.
