FINDING A NEW PATH—Desiree Davenport helps her mother, Terry, find a class in the fall 2009 schedule at Moorpark College on Tuesday afternoon. Terry Davenport already has an associate degree in early childhood education, but since the time she completed the program the requirements for teaching preschool have changed and she needs one more class. “All my kids are grown up,” she said. “I’d like to go back to teaching now.” Two weeks before the launch of the fall semester, enrollment at Moorpark College was up 8 percent over the year before.

The local institution served 15,839 in the fall of 2008. College leaders expect more than 17,000 students for the new semester starting Aug. 17.

“With the restriction in public university admissions, demand for traditional community college classes has gone up,” said Pam Eddinger, president at Moorpark College. “We’re trying our best to accommodate the overflow.”

Since the enrollment period for the 2009 fall semester remains open until the end of the first week of classes, the student population at the campus is likely to increase even more, further putting pressure on a college suffering under the state’s current budget crisis.

“We have decreased funding, yet we have more students knocking at our door,” Eddinger said.

The goal is to serve these students well in spite of decreased resources, so programs are being focused toward transfer education for students who plan to attend four-year universities, career preparation and basic skills such as math, English and computer skills, she said. 

College leaders are examining course offerings to ensure that core classes needed to complete twoyear degrees and vocational programs remain open for all students.

Credit programs have not been cut, but sections were eliminated to consolidate nonessential classes, Eddinger said.

English, math and general education courses are among the most popular offerings.

Career programs in the areas of health and wellness as well as technical training courses have also maintained high enrollments.   

“If we can help students complete their programs in the most effective and efficient way by offering the right combination of courses for their selection, then we not only help (them) successfully complete their work, but we also create capacity for new students coming in,” Eddinger said.

Upon graduation, the majority of Moorpark College students transfer to California State University and University of California campuses, but gaining admission at these schools is becoming increasingly difficult since they’ve been forced to accept fewer and fewer transfer students.

Most CSUs and UCs have already met their transfer numbers for this fall and next spring.

The more prepared community college pupils are, the more competitive they will be for available spots next year, said the college president.

While attempting to serve more students with less, college officials are still trying to provide enrichment that goes beyond academics.

Year of Service is the theme of Moorpark College’s new academic year.

The goal is to promote participation in altruistic activities at school and in the community.

Employees and student leaders hope to contribute 1 million hours of volunteer service by 2015, organizers said in a written statement.

The yearlong theme will begin with a service fair from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Wed., Sept. 9. Nonprofit and volunteer organizations are invited to host a table at the fair to educate the campus community about their organizations. 

Groups interested in hosting a table should call Kathryn Adams at (805) 378-1400, ext. 1696, or e-mail kadams@vcccd.edu.