SPECIAL TO THE EAST COUNTY CALIFORNIAN
As the Jan. 25 start of the new spring semester quickly approaches, Grossmont and Cuyamaca colleges want to get out the word that there’s still time to register for classes, and help is available to guide students toward their educational goals.
Schedules and registration links are available at www.gcccd.edu/now/ .At just $46 per unit, the colleges offer an affordable avenue for a high-quality education.
SPECIAL TO THE EAST COUNTY CALIFORNIAN
As the Jan. 25 start of the new spring semester quickly approaches, Grossmont and Cuyamaca colleges want to get out the word that there’s still time to register for classes, and help is available to guide students toward their educational goals.
Schedules and registration links are available at www.gcccd.edu/now/ .At just $46 per unit, the colleges offer an affordable avenue for a high-quality education.
With ample classes still open for the new semester, both colleges are encouraging students from past semesters who have yet to graduate to return to continue their education. Postcards have been sent to former students who attended Grossmont during the past three semesters, and both campuses are offering payment plans to re-enroll those dropped for not paying fees.
“We are delighted to be able to welcome more students to our colleges seeking university transfer or career preparation,” said Chancellor Cindy L. Miles. “With two new presidents, new faculty members and staff, it’s going to be a bright year for Grossmont and Cuyamaca colleges.”
Grossmont College is providing free academic counseling to new and continuing students from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 15 and 16, in Room 172 of Building 10, the Administration and Student Services Center. Jan. 22 is the deadline for online registration, so this is a prime opportunity to get help selecting classes for the spring semester. No appointments are needed and students will be served on a first-come, first-served basis.
The new semester will also bring with it the hiring of about 100 new employees to fill vacancies and new positions resulting from additional state funding for faculty hires and staffing student success initiatives. The positions being filled include instructors for courses such as English composition, physics, math and music, as well as a veterans’ counselor, and high school outreach workers.
Among Grossmont College’s offerings this spring are two new associate degrees for transfer in Social Justice and Global Studies, bringing to 19 the total number of transfer degrees that provide community college students guaranteed admission in the California State University system. Cuyamaca College offers the associate degrees for transfer in 17 majors, including Art History, added for the spring semester.
At Cuyamaca College, where students can enroll in a revamped Cisco Networking Academy to earn certification as entry-level network technicians in just 16 weeks, an orientation for the state-of-the-art program is set for 9 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 23, in Room E-205 in the Business and Technology Building. A prerequisite course in basic computer networking is recommended but not required.
Cisco is a worldwide leader in information technology, and the academy offers a series of classes where student learn to design, build, troubleshoot, and secure computer networks in preparation for IT jobs. The Cisco Networking Academy, which blends in-class study with online study, offers eight courses that begin with Introduction to Networks (CIS-201).
Among the offerings the college is highlighting is its renowned Automotive Technology program, which, since 1979 has been responding to the growing demand for well-trained technicians to service today’s computer-enhanced vehicles. The expanding market for hybrid vehicles has prompted the program to add a course covering hybrid, electric and alternative-fueled vehicles. Enrolling an average 300 students each semester, the program provides training to both those who are looking to get into a challenging and financially rewarding career, and those currently in the field who want to keep pace with the latest technology.
Contact program director Chris Branton at (619) 660-4213 or chris.branton@gcccd.edu for further information on the auto technology classes.
To welcome new and returning students, both colleges have several activities planned for the first week of classes. Grossmont’s Week of Welcome – WOW – features workshops and information booths highlighting programs and an All-campus Information and Activity Fair in the Main Quad, as well as other events throughout the week. Cuyamaca’s Welcome Week will include information tables; a meet-and-greet and free lunch for student veterans; ping pong, Wii games, pizza and ice cream sundaes with student government members; a Student Organization Involvement Fair; and a workshop on academic integrity and the student code of conduct.
Grossmont College is at 8800 Grossmont College Drive in El Cajon; Cuyamaca College is at 900 Rancho San Diego Parkway in the community of Rancho San Diego. For more information about the college district, go to www.gcccd.edu.
