Cabrillo College

Cabrillo College is a public community college offering associate degrees and certificates in more than 70 fields of study. The college itself is named after the explorer Juan Rodríguez Cabrillo. Its main campus is located in Aptos, California and is situated overlooking the Monterey Bay. It is one of 112 public community colleges in the state of California. The college opened in 1959. Cabrillo College has an enrollment of more than 14,000 students.

Facilities

Classes are offered at two locations: the main campus in Aptos at 6500 Soquel Drive and the Cabrillo College Watsonville Center, located at 318 Union Street in downtown Watsonville.

Facility planning and major construction has been completed on campus for the Barbara Samper Student Activities Center, and the Cabrillo College Arts Education Complex as well as a Health & Wellness Center (Precision Wellness Center) at the Aptos campus. The main quad in Aptos features a bust honoring Martin Luther King, Jr.

In 2007, Cabrillo received a $2.5 million grant from the Economic Development Administration towards the construction of a new Industrial Technology Education Center (ITEC) in Watsonville on the site of the former Watsonville Public Library. Now called the Solari Green Technology Center, the center hosts classes in solar technology, renewable/recycled building materials, and construction management.^[1] The new building is LEED Platinum certified, the first for Cabrillo.

In 2013, Cabrillo opened and dedicated the Baskin Engineering, Physics and Computing Center. The center serves as a focal point for STEM classes, and also contains the Monterey Peninsula Foundation STEM Center, which is a central point for STEM student services such as workshops, tutoring and labs.

Academics

Cabrillo focuses on student-centered learning and has a tradition of collegial, shared governance. The college transfers many of its students (after 3–5 years) to three nearby universities – the University of California at Santa Cruz, San Jose State University, and California State University at Monterey Bay. In fact, Cabrillo ranks #1 in transfers to UC Santa Cruz according to Chancellor George Blumenthal in his address to the Cabrillo College Governing Board in November 2007. Cabrillo offers hundreds of courses leading to four-year degrees in many majors. The majority of courses in the Cabrillo curriculum transfer to the University of California or the California State University systems.

Cabrillo’s career education is closely connected to the nearby Silicon Valley business environment as well as that of the greater San Francisco Bay Area. Cabrillo College offers a variety of programs that lead to skills certificates, certificates of achievement and associate degrees. In addition, Cabrillo College offers basic skills courses and courses for business, professional and personal development. A variety of not-for-credit classes are available on a fee basis through the Cabrillo College Extension program.

Cabrillo College is accredited by the Accrediting Commission of Community and Junior Colleges of the Western Association of Schools and Colleges.

The Library is named after the first president, Robert Swenson, who established Cabrillo and served for over 20 years as president.

Cabrillo College Administrators

• Laurel Jones is the Superintendent/President of Cabrillo College
• Kathleen Welch is the Vice President of Instruction
• Carsbia (interim) is the Vice President of Student Services
• Victoria Lewis is the Vice President of Administrative Services

Members of the Cabrillo Community College District Governing Board include Donna Ziel (Area I), Gary Reece (Area II), Christina Cuevas (Area III), Rachael Spencer (Area IV), Margarita Cortez (Area V), Alan Smith (Area VI), and Ed Banks (Area VII).

Associated Student of Cabrillo College

The ASCC Student Senate brings student voices into the Faculty Senate, the Administrative Committees and Councils, Staff Committees and the Governing Board. The Executive Board of the ASCC consists of the following eight positions: President, Vice President, Student Trustee, Treasurer, Watsonville Representative, Legislative Representative, Scotts Valley Representative, and Interclub Council Chair. There are 12 Senator-at-Large positions.

Notable alumni

• Brendan Ayanbadejo, a linebacker for the Baltimore Ravens of the NFL.
• Obafemi Ayanbadejo, a fullback who last played for the Chicago Bears.
• Sherman Cocroft, a former defensive back for the Kansas City Chiefs.
• Sharon Jordan, American film and television actress. Recurred on the Disney series The Suite Life of Zack & Cody.
• Dwight Lowery, a defensive back for the New York Jets.
• Camryn Manheim, Emmy Award-winning actress for The Practice
• Bruce McPherson, former State Assemblyman and his brother Fred McPherson, Cabrillo's first football captain
• Reggie Stephens former CB New York Giants
• Denise Crosby, an actress, seen in Star Trek: The Next Generation
• Gary Goldman, American animator for Disney and director for Sullivan Bluth Studios.

References

• Cabrillo College General Information PDF Accessed January 4, 2007.

External links

• Cabrillo College official website
• Cabrillo Active Clubs
• Student Senate website
• Career Technical Education

Coordinates: 36°59′18″N 121°55′30″W / 36.9883°N 121.925°W / 36.9883; -121.925