Affordable Local Education at Gavilan College
by on Mar 26, 2024Gavilan College is working hard to make sure we can maintain the high-quality, affordable education that helps local students prepare for 4-year college transfer and critical, good paying local jobs.
We are proud to have served the community for over 100 years. But as our buildings continue to age, and the demand for our programs on each Gavilan College campus has grown, we have struggled to maintain and upgrade our aging classrooms, labs and facilities, provide updated technology, and expand access to the hands-on training programs that help students learn new skills and find better paying jobs at a reasonable price.
As the cost to attend California's public universities has risen to at least six times that of attending a community college, we know that more local students and their families rely on Gavilan College to save tens of thousands of dollars earning college credits, certifications, and job skills locally.
That is why Gavilan College has recently begun outreach to determine priorities on each of our campuses.
Now we want to hear from you! Please join the conversation and let us which services we should prioritize by completing a community survey HERE: www.surveymonkey.com/r/GYFCYSJ
If you are a part of a civic organization and would like a representative of Gavilan College to attend your next meeting to talk about the district’s needs and provide your input on priorities, please contact:
Michelle Jones
Executive Assistant, President's Office
mjones@gavilan.edu
(408) 848-4711
Frequently Asked Questions- Gavilan College
What is Gavilan College?
Gavilan College through its four college campuses—Gavilan College in Gilroy, Coyote Valley Center in San Jose, Hollister Briggs site in Hollister, and the San Martin Aviation site, has been providing high quality, affordable higher education and job training in Santa Clara and San Benito Counties for over 100 years. The cost of attending California’s public universities continues to rise and is now more than six times that of attending a community college.
But as our original Gavilan College campus continues to age, and enrollment districtwide increases, we are struggling to maintain the quality education at an affordable price, on which our local students and families rely.
How does Gavilan College help students gain a 4- year university education?
The cost of attending CSU’s and UC’s is at least six times that of attending a community college like Gavilan College. We provide an affordable way for local students to earn college credits, certifications, and job skills at a reasonable price and transfer to four-year universities.
Our programs rely on up-to-date facilities to continue to offer this caliber of education while saving families tens of thousands of dollars on the first few years of college.
How does Gavilan College help students prepare for good jobs?
Gavilan College provides essential job training and workforce preparation for students of all ages, including local residents and returning veterans.
However, many Gavilan College classrooms, labs, facilities, and technology are out of date for today’s technological needs, and the College must upgrade existing classrooms to expand access to hands-on training programs that help students learn new skills and find better paying jobs
Are repairs needed?
Yes. At this time, funding does not exist to upgrade outdated and aging classrooms, science labs, and job training equipment are outdated and aging. The college is currently studying its facilities in order to assess urgent and basic repairs, such as ensuring earthquake safety, upgrading electrical wiring, gas, and sewer lines, fixing leaky roofs, and replacing outdated plumbing, as well as updated classrooms for training students for the jobs of today in a safe and clean learning environment.
Gavilan College is assessing each campus to ascertain what each needs, in advance of the Districts’ upcoming budget planning.
Will community input be considered?
Yes. Gavilan College has initiated community outreach. Your local neighbors identified priorities for the Gavilan College District, including:
- Replacing leaking roofs
- Retaining and attracting high quality faculty
- Repairing aging gas, electrical, and sewer lines
- Modernizing classrooms and labs for science technology and science labs
- Improving vocational classrooms and labs and technology training programs to better prepare students and worker for good paying jobs
- Making repairs to the aging plumbing system to prevent flooding and water damage
- Preventing funds from being spent on administrator salaries
How can I get more information and provide input?
We want to hear from you! For more factual information, visit https://www.gavilan.edu/AffordableLocalEducation and provide your priorities for our local community colleges. If you are a member of a civic organization and would like the College to present at your next meeting, feel free to contact Michelle Jones by phone at (408) 848-4711 or by email at mjones@gavilan.edu