Semester begins at Ventura County Community Colleges
Tracy Lehr
VENTURA, Calif. – Ventura College, Oxnard College, and Moorpark College welcomed freshmen and returning students back for the first day of the fall semester on Monday, Aug. 11.
They are all part of the Ventura County Community College District, which now offers bachelor’s degrees in some majors.
In addition to being the first day of school, Ventura College is celebrating its 100th anniversary and Oxnard College is celebrating its 50th. Moorpark College marked its 50th back in 2017.
After classes on Monday, some students bought new and used books. One math textbook was in the $200 range.
Plenty of students lined up to check out financial aid.
Isaac Morales chose to wear a suit and tie for his first day of classes.
“I always like to dress, obviously,” said Morales. “I’m going to school to be a lawyer.”
The college offers pre-law courses.
Ventura College’s Director of Marketing and Outreach, Vanessa Stotler, wants students to know there is still time to enroll.
“We have classes that start later in the semester, and so every single month we have classes, so it is really meant to fit somebody’s schedule,” said Stotler.
It’s too soon to tell if enrollment — about 14,500 last year — is up. She said it has been rather flat.
Educators want students concerned about the political climate to know they are here for them.
“It is a very big thing at the forefront of us welcoming students back, so we are being very careful about just being cautious of what is out there, right, and we do have signage posted on our doors to make sure that we are keeping ICE out and our students safe,” said MESA Program Coordinator Mayte Ipatzi Guevara.
The Hueneme High and UCLA graduate was the first in her family to graduate college, and now she helps others through the MESA Program.
MESA stands for Math, Engineering, Science, Achievement.
Signs on campus that read “Everyone is welcome here except ICE” encourage students to know their rights, including the right to remain silent.
One of the perks at Ventura College is the library terrace, which has an ocean view on clear days.
Thanks to the ocean breeze, students and educators said smoke from the Canyon Fire in Ventura County and the Gifford Fires in Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo counties has not been an issue.
That’s good news for student-athletes who are already on the soccer, football, and baseball fields practicing.
Matthew Ramirez, who went to Moorpark High, is a member of the Ventura College Pirates baseball team.
“I’m excited to start the year. I was a freshman here last year, so it is always exciting seeing new guys on the baseball field, also starting class. Teachers are great here, so I am just really excited,” said Ramirez.
Since students start so early, they also graduate early — in mid-April.
For more information visit https://vcccd.edu