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Board approves Cabrillo College request to admit dental hygiene cohorts every other year amid fiscal pressures
Summary
The Education Committee recommended and the full board approved Cabrillo College's request to change its dental hygiene program enrollment to a cohort of 20 students every other year, citing state funding and enrollment pressures; committee members and public commenters raised questions about continuity of care and clinical capacity.
The Dental Hygiene Board of California approved a change to Cabrillo College's dental hygiene program enrollment pattern on March 21, 2025, allowing the college to admit one cohort of 20 students every other year rather than annually.
Cabrillo College President Matthew Wettstein, Vice President Tavares Harris and Dean Heidi Weber presented the request and told the Education Committee that declining state college funding, changes to continuing education revenue streams and demographic shifts drove the request. They said faculty positions remain but the number of sections and assigned units would be reduced when cohorts are admitted every other year.
A motion by Justin Matthews to recommend the change was seconded and approved by the committee and forwarded to the full board, which recorded the vote and the motion passed. Board staff confirmed Cabrillo had submitted the request to the Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA) and had received CODA approval for the enrollment change.
Committee members questioned what circumstances would prompt Cabrillo to return to annual cohorts; college leaders said improved state funding or restored revenue streams would allow reconsideration. Public commenters, including Joanne Galliano and other educators, asked how the college would preserve continuity of care for patients seen in the college clinic across the multi'year student cycle. Cabrillo representatives said faculty levels would be maintained, clinical oversight would be preserved, and community partnerships such as local community clinics could receive referrals when students are unable to provide advanced care.
Board staff included Cabrillo's documentation in the meeting materials and said the college will provide the board a copy of the CODA decision and any follow'up reports required for compliance.
The action: The committee'level recommendation to permit a cohort change was approved and recorded; the board voted to approve the change in enrollment pattern, and staff will monitor compliance and documentation going forward.
