Students have clear view about campus look and programs
Although a new Hollister campus for Gavilan College could be as
far as 30 years away from completion, according to trustees,
students now attending the campus still have clear ideas of what
they would like to see.
Students have clear view about campus look and programs
Although a new Hollister campus for Gavilan College could be as far as 30 years away from completion, according to trustees, students now attending the campus still have clear ideas of what they would like to see.
Randy Joyner, 18, has been attending classes at Gavilan for the past two years. Most of the classes he takes are not offered at the Hollister extension of Gavilan, so he has to get back and forth from Gilroy four days per week.
“I think more classes in Hollister would be cool,” Joyner said. “It’s kind of a pain having to go back and forth to Gilroy every day. I’ve taken one class at the [Hollister site] and it was alright, for a classroom in a parking garage.”
Joyner has ideas about what he would like to see for a full campus in San Benito.
“I like the way Gav is laid out now, all natural and stuff, so it would be pretty cool if they did that same thing over here,” Joyner said. “I’d also like it if they offered automotive classes over here.”
Gavilan’s current Hollister campus is located in the Briggs Building located near the corner of Fourth and San Benito streets in downtown Hollister. The brick building shares space with the four-story parking garage.
The property trustees have selected for the site of the new Gavilan campus is located at the intersection of Fairview Road and Airline Highway.
The board is currently in the due diligence stage. Phase two is beginning interaction with the public.
At a recent public meeting, consultants and trustees from the Gavilan College Board of Trustees encouraged the public to brainstorm ideas about what programs and amenities they would like to see at the new facility, according to Hollister Trustee Kent Child, but Child said he could not state what any of the ideas that were discussed at the meeting were.
Child explained that the group of around 50 people shared a broad assessment of ideas that will eventually be whittled down and refined.
In the meantime, current students will continue to use the facilities now available. Michelle Raines, another student, is working on a liberal arts degree. She has been attending classes at Gavilan on and off for about three years. She has taken several classes at Gavilan’s Hollister location.
“It sure beats the alternative,” Raines said. “It’s a total pain driving back and forth to Gilroy, but I do it because I want to finish my degree.”
Raines can’t wait for a Gavilan campus in San Benito County.
“I think it could be really great,” Raines said. “I mean, I know a lot of people who go to Gilroy every day. That really adds up, so to be able to stay in town and have a wider range of classes, well, that would be great.”
Raines would like to see a nursing program at the new campus and possibly some nearby affordable housing.
“I would love to be able to walk to school,” Raines said. “I ride the bus some of the time now to save gas money, but if I could live nearby campus it would be great.”
Luke Homeres started classes at Gavilan last year and has not been able to take a single class in Hollister so far.
“I hate commuting. It’s the worst,” Homeres said. “Fortunately I have a buddy that has classes around the same time that I do, so we commute together. I’d definitely like it if the classes I want to take were offered in Hollister as well as Gilroy.”
Homeres is hoping to transfer to San Francisco State University next year, so construction on the new campus won’t even start before he transfers.
“I think the campus should feel like San Benito County,” Homeres said. “It should feel natural like the Gavilan [Gilroy] campus does. Maybe they could even put in some trails behind the campus. I like walking around Gav.”
Maria Santos, a cosmetology student at Gavilan’s Gilroy campus, is also tired of commuting.
“I commute every day,” Santos said. “Mostly on the bus, but sometimes I drive. I’m ready for a campus in Hollister. I’d love it if I could take my cosmetology classes locally.”
When it came to what the new campus should look like Santos had only one thought.
“Trees; I think the new campus should have a lot of trees.”
