Dr. Francisco Rodriguez
Superintendent/ President
What are the biggest trends in education right now and how is MiraCosta College addressing them?
Ensuring that students have access to higher education remains a top focus for colleges throughout California. College opportunity paid a significant price during the recession and the consequential state-implemented budget cuts. California community colleges sustained over $1.2 billion in cumulative budget cuts between 2008-09 and 2011-12, and, across the state, access to college for over 500,000 students was eliminated.
Throughout the recession, however, MiraCosta College remained one of the few community colleges that experienced sustained growth. Through prudent and thoughtful fiscal planning, student enrollment at MiraCosta College grew by nearly 35 percent. In response, we are hiring 10 new full-time faculty members, have expanded course offerings on Fridays and Saturdays, and have built or are building much-needed science lab space on the Oceanside and San Elijo campuses. We also have teamed up with Carlsbad Unified to offer college classes at Sage Creek High School and now offer college credit classes to high school students tuition-free.
Student success also remains a top priority. MiraCosta College continues to work with school districts throughout our service area to provide well-articulated pathways to college. We offer transfer pathways to UC, CSU and private schools. And, to fill our community's need for skilled workers, we recently secured a $2.75 million federal grant to start a Technology Career Institute, a comprehensive training facility that will prepare participants?including military veterans and the unemployed?for high-skilled careers in the manufacturing and technology industries.
Where do you see MiraCosta College's growth?
North San Diego County is an epicenter of educational excellence and, since 1934, MiraCosta College has been a proud part of it. As I think about the next 80 years of MiraCosta College, I'm very optimistic about our future. Our foundation for continued leadership and service is solid and strong. We will build on the excellence of the last 80 years and look toward the future with great hope and optimism.
With an average class size of about 30 to 45, MiraCosta College students rave about their professors and the personal attention they receive.
Both students and staff enjoy a friendly atmosphere, and the feeling that we are all here to help one another. Our diverse student body includes people from a variety of ages, ethnicities and cultural backgrounds.
Students who plan to transfer to a four-year university get on the right track through TAG, IGETC, UniversityLink, and other transfer programs. MiraCosta College also has one of the highest transfer rates to the University of California out of all of the community colleges in San Diego County.
Our students also typically earn higher GPA's than non-transfer students.
MiraCosta College's district is coastal North San Diego County; approximately 35 miles north of San Diego and 90 miles south of Los Angeles. Major highway access is Interstate 5 and Highway 78; closest major airport, San Diego Lindbergh.
Superintendent/ President
What are the biggest trends in education right now and how is MiraCosta College addressing them?
Ensuring that students have access to higher education remains a top focus for colleges throughout California. College opportunity paid a significant price during the recession and the consequential state-implemented budget cuts. California community colleges sustained over $1.2 billion in cumulative budget cuts between 2008-09 and 2011-12, and, across the state, access to college for over 500,000 students was eliminated.
Throughout the recession, however, MiraCosta College remained one of the few community colleges that experienced sustained growth. Through prudent and thoughtful fiscal planning, student enrollment at MiraCosta College grew by nearly 35 percent. In response, we are hiring 10 new full-time faculty members, have expanded course offerings on Fridays and Saturdays, and have built or are building much-needed science lab space on the Oceanside and San Elijo campuses. We also have teamed up with Carlsbad Unified to offer college classes at Sage Creek High School and now offer college credit classes to high school students tuition-free.
Student success also remains a top priority. MiraCosta College continues to work with school districts throughout our service area to provide well-articulated pathways to college. We offer transfer pathways to UC, CSU and private schools. And, to fill our community's need for skilled workers, we recently secured a $2.75 million federal grant to start a Technology Career Institute, a comprehensive training facility that will prepare participants?including military veterans and the unemployed?for high-skilled careers in the manufacturing and technology industries.
Where do you see MiraCosta College's growth?
North San Diego County is an epicenter of educational excellence and, since 1934, MiraCosta College has been a proud part of it. As I think about the next 80 years of MiraCosta College, I'm very optimistic about our future. Our foundation for continued leadership and service is solid and strong. We will build on the excellence of the last 80 years and look toward the future with great hope and optimism.
With an average class size of about 30 to 45, MiraCosta College students rave about their professors and the personal attention they receive.
Both students and staff enjoy a friendly atmosphere, and the feeling that we are all here to help one another. Our diverse student body includes people from a variety of ages, ethnicities and cultural backgrounds.
Students who plan to transfer to a four-year university get on the right track through TAG, IGETC, UniversityLink, and other transfer programs. MiraCosta College also has one of the highest transfer rates to the University of California out of all of the community colleges in San Diego County.
Our students also typically earn higher GPA's than non-transfer students.
MiraCosta College's district is coastal North San Diego County; approximately 35 miles north of San Diego and 90 miles south of Los Angeles. Major highway access is Interstate 5 and Highway 78; closest major airport, San Diego Lindbergh.