Gavilan Collage officials from left Kent Child, Steve Kinsella, Laura Perry and Tom Breen are shown here when they allowed Gavilan College's aviation program to leave the Hollister airport.

Gavilan College wants to remind students about its unique
Aviation Maintenance Technology program, which moved to the Gilroy
campus from the Hollister Airport last year and kicks off two weeks
earlier than regular classes.
Gavilan College wants to remind students about its unique Aviation Maintenance Technology program, which moved to the Gilroy campus from the Hollister Airport last year and kicks off two weeks earlier than regular classes.

Enrollment is still open for the two-year program, which contains multiple courses and begins Aug. 11. Gavilan is one of 14 community colleges out of 112 in California to offer the program, according to Jan Bernstein-Chargin, director of public information for Gavilan. She also said the college has increased its total class schedule by two percent for the coming fall.

The aviation program is accredited by the Federal Aviation Administration and can lead to a Certificate of Achievement or an Associate of Science degree. Skills taught in this program equip graduates for employment in fields such as welding, sheet metal, electrical systems, hydraulics, fuel systems and automotive repair.

Classes will be held in a temporary location on Gavilan’s campus in Gilroy, with plans to move to the San Martin Airport in 2012. The rest of Gavilan’s classes begin Aug. 31.

To register, visit www.gavilan.edu, then click on “Apply and Enroll.” New students must submit an application, take an assessment test and complete online or in-person orientation prior to meeting with a counselor. Fees are $36 per unit for California residents.

Gavilan has also decreased its credit classes and decreased its non-credit classes. This includes several non-credit classes previously offered at no charge to adults over 55.

“The Chancellor’s Office of the California Community Colleges has directed that we should prioritize our core mission components: Transfer, career technology, and basic skills, over enrichment or lifelong learning,” explained Bernstein.

She said 807 potential enrollments will be impacted and 13 faculty members, who work on a semester-to-semester basis. They will not be employed by Gavilan in the fall.

Eliminated courses include “Living Through Learning” older adults programs normally available through Gavilan in Gilroy, Morgan Hill and Hollister sites. This includes Music Encounters, Windows Fundamentals for the Older Adult, Word For the Older Adult, Body Dynamics and Aging, Arts and Crafts for the Older Adult, Journal Writing, Coping With Loss, Joy of Listening to Music, Music, Movement and Health and Finding Book Treasures.

Adults 55 and older are encouraged to enroll in the classes offered in Gavilan’s credit program, or explore not-for-credit, fee-based options through Gavilan College Community Education by visiting www.gavilan.edu.

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