MiraCosta College's Top 10 News Stories of 2021

As we enter into the new year, MiraCosta College takes a look back at the top 10 news stories of 2021. From new facilities, award-winning programs, our four-year bachelor's degree becoming permanent, and an enhanced dual enrollment program focused on creating career opportunities, these and more are the stories that topped the MiraCosta NewsCenter in 2021. Keep reading and view more top lists.

#10 - MIRACOSTA COLLEGE DUAL ENROLLMENT PROGRAM CREATING CAREER OPPORTUNITIES FOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS

A new MiraCosta College dual enrollment program at Surfside Educational Academy in Oceanside is setting the standard on how a collaborative approach in earning college credit for high school students can also result in new job skills and gainful employment.

The partnership between Surfside Educational Academy and MiraCosta College began last year with a one unit, college-level Career and Life Planning course. The success of that course led to offering Introduction to Hospitality Management, a three unit class launched this spring. Twenty-two students are currently enrolled in the class and have priority consideration to interview with Hyatt Hotels for a position at the new Mission Pacific and Seabird Resort hotels in Oceanside.

#9 - SUMMER CONSTRUCTION BOOM BRINGS NEW FACILITIES TO MIRACOSTA COLLEGE CAMPUSES

MiraCosta Community College District maintains the highest credit ratings from both Moody’s Investors Services (Moody’s) and Standard & Poor’s Global (S&P). Moody’s and S&P assigned MiraCosta College AAA ratings for a second time—the same ratings earned in 2017.

#8 - DESIGN COMPLETE FOR NEW NURSING & ALLIED HEALTH BUILDING

The design of MiraCosta College’s future new Teresia M. Heyden Hall for Nursing & Allied Health building has been completed; approval by the Division of the State Architect (DSA) is expected in November, 2021.

The single-story building will provide training facilities; simulation spaces, including patient and operating rooms; and hands-on skills labs and classrooms outfitted with the latest healthcare technologies. The new building will support degree and certificate programs for several in-demand healthcare fields, including Nursing, Kinesiology, Nutrition, Health Education, and Medical Administrative Professional.

#7 - MIRACOSTA COLLEGE BREWTECH PROGRAM RECOGNIZED BY MASTER BREWERS ASSOCIATION

MiraCosta College’s craft brewing program has been recognized as the only community college certificate program of its kind in California meeting the standards set by the Master Brewers Association of the Americas.

Certification by the Master Brewers Association of the Americas (MBAA) assures that the BrewTech Program at MiraCosta College meets an array of standards, such as preparing students for entry-level positions at either large-scale or craft brewing business, employing a lead faculty member with extensive experience as a leader of an operating brewery, allows for industry internships, and provides adequate facilities needed to hone techniques and skills.

#6 - PRELIMINARY CONSTRUCTION ACTIVITIES UNDERWAY FOR NEW STUDENT SERVICES BUILDING

Grading and other early-phase construction activities are underway for the future new Student Services Building at MiraCosta College.

The expansive, state-of-the-art facility will consolidate student services functions scattered throughout the campus to a single, one-stop-shop comprising more than 39,000 square feet. Located at the former Pedley Park site, the new building is strategically located as a gateway building for the campus, providing a much-needed sense of entry and easy wayfinding for new or prospective students.

The building will also provide a new home for MiraCosta’s Veterans Center, providing academic counseling, career services, a food pantry, free tutoring, assistance to military veterans with processing paperwork, getting coursework certified for GI Bill benefits, and more.

#5 - MIRACOSTA COLLEGE TO AWARD MORE THAN $260,000 IN FALL 2021 SCHOLARSHIPS

Consistently serving the needs of students, the MiraCosta College Foundation has issued more than $260,000 in scholarships, celebrating both the donors and award recipients.

“Congratulations to our 278 scholarship recipients! Your determination, perseverance, and academic dedication is honored through this scholarship award. The MiraCosta College community is proud to support you in your educational journey,” applauds Dr. Sunita “Sunny” Cooke, MiraCosta College superintendent/president.

#4 - MIRACOSTA COLLEGE NAMED IN TOP 150 COMMUNITY COLLEGES

The Aspen Institute has named MiraCosta College as one of the 150 entities eligible to compete for the $1 million Aspen Prize for Community College Excellence, one of the nation’s highest awards honoring achievement and performance of America’s community colleges. The colleges selected for this honor stand out among more than 1,000 community colleges nationwide as having high and improving levels of student success, as well as equitable outcomes for Black and Hispanic students and those from lower-income backgrounds.

#3 - AB 927 SIGNED INTO LAW MAKING MIRACOSTA COLLEGE’S FOUR-YEAR DEGREE PERMANENT

As part of the College Affordability and Accessibility legislative package, California Governor Gavin Newsom signs AB 927 into law making MiraCosta College’s four-year degree program in biomanufacturing permanent. 

California Assembly Bill (AB) 927, introduced during the 2021 legislative cycle, calls for making the current 15 community college baccalaureate degree programs permanent, with the removal of the 2026 sunset date. The bill would also authorize an expansion of the program to authorize additional districts and colleges to apply to the State Chancellor’s Office of the California Community Colleges for approval of these unique, workforce oriented baccalaureate degree programs. The bill upholds the prohibition on the duplication of programs at both the University of California and the California State University; the baccalaureate degree offerings at California Community Colleges are to train in the unmet, high-demand workforce fields.

#2 - EXPANDING WORKFORCE OPPORTUNITIES IN NORTH COUNTY SAN DIEGO

The recent pandemic and subsequent recession has been a wake-up call for California, creating a critical need on the part of employers, economic development organizations, education, and city governments to work closely together to foster workforce development in a much more coordinated and effective way.

California Assemblywoman Tasha Boerner Horvath was tasked to work with economists on how to address economic recovery. Her discussions and research highlighted the need for short-term training that included paid internships. "By offering students the chance to take accelerated work training and internship courses, this program will help folks in our region gain the qualifications they need to compete for well-paying jobs, make career pivots, and more. With our economy in a period of transition, many Californians are in need of a whole different set of skills to break into lucrative industries and get ahead, and this sort of training will help them get there" explains Boerner Horvath.

#1 - MIRACOSTA COLLEGE INTRODUCES COVID-19 VACCINATION INCENTIVE FOR STUDENTS

MiraCosta College is committed to providing a safe, healthy, and exceptional learning environment for students and employees. A crucial part of this commitment is reducing the spread of COVID-19, the District has joined many colleges and universities nationwide to incentivize students to get fully vaccinated against COVID-19. MiraCosta College will give up to $3 million in Higher Education Emergency Relief Funding (HEERF) to encourage currently unvaccinated students to get fully vaccinated against COVID-19. Any MiraCosta College student who is registered for a fall 2021 course, receives their COVID-19 vaccination, and submits verification through their SURF student account, is eligible to receive a $300 credit to use in the MiraCosta College Bookstore (on the 1 Barnard Drive Campus or online).