November 11,2014
Courses Could Be Offered In 2016 – Seeks “Community Provided Facilities”
Marymount California University is a liberal arts institution offering associate, bachelor’s and master’s degrees and serving students in three California communities: Palos Verdes and San Pedro in Los Angeles County and Lucerne in Lake County.
Not to be confused with another Catholic university – Loyola Marymount, Marymount California is a 4-year and graduate level college – an independent, Catholic, coeducational, and residential university.
Now the college, on a new mission to establish multi-site campuses in the state, is looking at a location in the San Joaquin Valley, in Visalia, a city of 125,000 that currently has but one college – evangelical-based Fresno Pacific – offering upper level classes.
“After a community meeting held in Visalia October 23 we are ready to take the next step toward establishing a 4-year higher educational program in Visalia” says Marymount board member Bonifacio (Bonny) Garcia, J.D., who works as the City Attorney for the City of Delano.
Garcia was urged to consider Visalia after talking to friend, long time educator Dr Bob Aguilar of Visalia. Dr Aguilar set up the community meeting October 23 at the Visalia Holiday Inn inviting about 40 community leaders to attend to hear Mr Garcia as well as president of the college Michael S. Brophy, Ph.D.
“We felt we got an excellent reception” says Dr Aguilar who explains the college is exploring the possibility of a campus here if the right formula can be found.
This week college president Dr Michael Brophy said the college was ready to move forward on a collaborative study.
Priority One
Visalia has hungered for a four-year college for decades. Visalia City Council member Greg Collins who attended the community meeting stood up and recounted that “for 23 annual city council strategy sessions held early each year to set priorities – bringing in a four-year college has been number one on the list every year.”
“I agree this would be just wonderful for Visalia” says Council member Warren Gubler who attended the meeting. “It could start out small and go from there” he figures.
Attending the meeting as well were Visalia City Manager Mike Olmos, Jim Vidak Tulare County Dept of Education head,members of both the Hispanic Chamber and Visalia Chamber as well as COS and VUSD leaders. Ernie Hernandez who works with United Way was in attendance.
“There will be more next time” says Aguilar who said he was asked how he got all those community leaders in one room.
“With the need here for a four-year education opportunities I would say both for Marymount and for the community – Visalia is in the sweet spot” reflects Marymount board member Garcia. “This looks like a win-win.”
Multi-Site Campuses
The college’ main campus is located along the coastline of Rancho Palos Verdes, California on 26 acres.The institution is accredited by the Accrediting Commission for Senior Colleges and Universities of the Western Association of Schools and Colleges.
In 1968, the Religious of the Sacred Heart of Mary established the Marymount California University.In 1975, they transferred responsibility for the University to a lay board of trustees. In summer 2011, Marymount California University opened the Waterfront Campus in San Pedro, Los Angeles.
Just last year Marymount College announced that it was changing its name to Marymount California University (MCU) to “reflect the gradual transformation of the 45-year-old institution of higher education to a future multi-site institution with undergraduate and graduate programs” according to a press release.
Potential For Classes In 2016 – Study In Works
As of this week the college is ready to make their plans public. University President Brophy offered the following perspective in an email sent to this reporter November 11.
“ Based on our experience in establishing an extension campus in Northern California (Lake County) MCU would like to lead a study of the Visalia region’s need for a four-year and graduate degree programs. This study will include working in partnership with your excellent community colleges, College of the Sequoias and Porterville Community College. The study will provide regional leadership with the information it would need to commit to hosting a four-year university like MCU in community provided facilities as early as 2016-2017.”
“Resourcing this study would be important, so our proposal would include the estimated financial investment the region would need to make to support a thorough and thoughtful study.”
“Secondly, Marymount California University will be preparing a proposal to deliver a Professional Leadership Graduate Certificate Program for regional educational, not-for-profit and business leaders. This is envisioned as an 18–month program that provides working professionals with the opportunity to study leadership through four graduate courses that will be delivered in a hybrid fashion by MCU professors, mentors and local professional and business owner which they would pursue action research projects that would enhance the region’s educational, not-for- profit and business programs and initiatives. The goal would be to provide Visalia area leaders with access to best practices in leadership and mentors who have made a difference in their community” concludes the email.
With some 63 percent of the county population being Latino,it is not surprising that the Catholic religion is by far the largest denomination in the county with over 100,000 active participants according to multiple data sources.
“I expect we will get students from all over the region “ says Bob Aguilar.
Garcia notes Visalia’s location helps make it an attractive candidate for a location for Marymount given the “cultural mindset” that works to keep offspring closer to home in the Hispanic culture. “Unlike almost any community of its size Visalia has few 4-year options. We have kids ready to transfer from COS but if they want to attend Fresno Pacific they must wait till they are 21” he adds.
“There is just a huge under served population here.”
Just how student classes could be accommodated near term is the key issue with the college apparently ready to offer the instruction but counting on community, government or non-profit help to provide facilities.That could happen if there is some surplus space,not being used. This is the model used in founding the Lake County campus says Garcia.
Marymount California University is a Catholic institution that welcomes students of all faiths and backgrounds into a quality, values-based education.Their website says “ We foster a student-centered approach to learning that promotes the development of the whole person. In the spirit of our founders, the Religious of the Sacred Heart of Mary, we challenge our students to pursue lives of leadership and service.”
A profile of the college says their student body,about 2000 strong, is 56 percent female and 44 percent male with 44 percent of students identify themselves as Catholic. Students originate from 23 states and 26 countries and 96 percent are full-time students seeking associate’s, bachelor’s and graduate degrees. Marymount’s student to full-time faculty ratio is 17:1 with 114 faculty members and 115 staff members. The average class size is 17 students.
Dr. Aguilar and Dr. Juan Lopez will continue to update community leaders of the college status as ongoing planning steps develop. A second community meeting is likely next month.