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Board approves two new education centers in Inland and North San Diego counties
Summary
The Board of Governors voted to approve center status for Mount San Jacinto Community College's Temecula Valley site and Palomar College's Rancho Bernardo Education Center. The board heard presentations from both districts and took individual roll-call votes to approve each center.
The Board of Governors approved two separate education-center status requests on Jan. 14, granting formal center approval to Mount San Jacinto Community College District's Temecula Valley campus and Palomar College's Rancho Bernardo Education Center.
Mount San Jacinto Superintendent/President Roger Schultz told the board that the district repurposed a large underutilized commercial complex in Temecula into a multi-story, comprehensive center that opened classes in 2020. Schultz said the facility offers STEM programs, a veteran center, EOPS and admissions services, and a culinary lab; he described strong local demand and substantial recent enrollment growth. Palomar College Superintendent/President Dr. Star Rivera Lacey presented the Rancho Bernardo Center as a strategically located site serving the district's southern communities, with programs in design and technology, partnerships such as a Palomar Middle College with Poway Unified, and plans to be financially self-sustaining.
Executive Vice Chancellor Chris Ferguson told the board both centers met the statutory criteria and that campus-level presentations and public comment had supported the staff recommendations for approval. The board took separate motions and roll-call votes on each item. For item 4.3, approving Mount San Jacinto's Temecula Valley center, the board approved the staff recommendation; mover/second were recorded at the meeting and the item passed by roll-call vote. The board then approved item 4.4, Palomar College's Rancho Bernardo Education Center, in a separate roll-call vote.
Why it matters: Center status formalizes a campus's role in offering comprehensive services and eligibility under the state's funding formulas. Both districts said the approvals will help meet local demand for workforce and transfer pathways and reduce travel burdens for students in their service areas.
Board actions: - Motion to approve Mount San Jacinto Community College District Temecula Valley center (item 4.3). Outcome: approved (motion moved and seconded; recorded roll-call vote). - Motion to approve Palomar Community College District Rancho Bernardo Education Center (item 4.4). Outcome: approved (motion moved and seconded; recorded roll-call vote).
Speakers and testimony: Mount San Jacinto Superintendent/President Roger Schultz and Palomar Superintendent/President Dr. Star Rivera Lacey each presented their district's application, described student services and local partnerships, and answered board questions about curriculum and outreach. League of California Community Colleges president Larry Galizio delivered brief public comment in support.
Next steps: With board approval the chancellor's office will add the centers to the official inventory and districts may proceed with expanded programming and funding eligibility under the center-status rules.
