Allan Hancock College Formally Welcomes Cal Poly Business Bachelor Students
SANTA MARIA, Calif. (KEYT) – Cal Poly and Allan Hancock College held a kickoff reception in Santa Maria this afternoon.
They celebrated the launch of another of Cal Poly’s bachelor pathway programs — at Hancock college.
The event, held at the Fine Arts upstairs terrace at Allan Hancock College, welcomed the business pathway’s inaugural cohort and recognized the ongoing sociology pathway.
These partnership programs allow students to earn Cal Poly bachelor’s degrees by taking their classes at Allan Hancock College’s Santa Maria campus.
“We’re seeing more students enrolling, and you combine it with radiation technology program that we’re getting from Santa Barbara City College, We’re really seeing students come here and enroll so they can prep for those programs,” says Kevin Walthers, Allan Hancock College President.
Courses are offered in flexible formats structured to support students who are balancing education with work, family and other commitments.
“The most tangible thing about being in this program is that I live in the area. So yes, gas,” says Rachel Lopez, Cal Poly Cohort Sociology Student. “And, like, I can be here in class within 15 minutes from my house.”
Students and faculty from both institutions say this partnership will open a lot of doors for students who live in and around Santa Maria.
“This program has opened the doors, like the floodgates,” says Lopez. “Like, for people, you know, especially like, you know, parents like me, you know, I live here, everything’s here. And so it’s just more convenient.”
Students enrolled in these pathways are classified as Cal Poly students.
“We just started last week,” says Lopez. “It was the first day of transitioning into semester. So I’m a senior at Cal Poly.”
As part of the university, students have access to Cal Poly academic advising, library resources, career support and select resources through Allan Hancock College.
“Everywhere I go in the community, people are really excited about this, especially the idea that we’re getting a business degree in a nursing degree from the Cal State University system,” says Walthers. “This is how we change the odds for everybody in our community.”
The programs aim to prepare participants for careers in business administration, public service and related sectors.
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