MiraCosta College’s Annual Report Celebrates the Groundbreaking Moments during the Prior Year

Themed around breaking [new] ground, MiraCosta College Superintendent/President Dr. Sunita “Sunny” Cooke outlined student initiatives and released the 2018-19 Annual Report to more than 240 civic leaders, community members, district faculty, staff, and students during her Report to the Region address at the Westin Carlsbad Resort and Spa.

The annual event, organized by the MiraCosta College Office of Institutional Advancement and sponsored by Kitchell, Tri-City Medical Center, and California Coast Credit Union, was an opportunity to share and celebrate all the tremendous happenings at MiraCosta College—highlighting some of the stories of student success, district achievements, staff accolades, and community collaborations during this past year—in addition to thanking the community for passing Measure MM, the historic $455 million facility bond measure.

Dr. Cooke’s presentation included updates on increasing access and affordability of college, workforce development and economic sustainability, pathways to transfer, and MiraCosta College’s Capital Improvement Program (Measure MM).

Nationally, student loan debt has reached a record high of over $1.3 trillion; exceeding credit card and personal loan debt combined. MiraCosta College is proud to have eliminated tuition and mandatory fees for all of our first time to attend college, full-time students for two-years. While students still face additional financial barriers, MiraCosta continues to raise private dollars to help students with emergency grants, living costs, and unexpected situations that could derail their educational goals.

During the prior semester, MiraCosta College was proud to celebrate the inaugural graduating class of the first cohort to graduate from MiraCosta College’s groundbreaking baccalaureate program in biomanufacturing.

MiraCosta is one of 15 community colleges that, for the first time ever, secured approval from the California Community Colleges Board of Governors to offer bachelor’s degrees as part of the state’s Baccalaureate Degree Pilot Program. The program boosts the number of Californians with a four-year degree and meets the workforce needs of our region.

“Biomanufacturing is just one of the five ways students can complete a four-year degree without leaving MiraCosta College. MiraCosta College wants our students to have access to the career education they need. Most go on to attend CSU San Marcos and others to a variety of universities including MIT, Stanford, Berkeley, and so on,” explains Superintendent/President Dr. Cooke.

MiraCosta College continues to offer the 2+2 program with Point Loma Nazarene University, to allow students to earn their four-year degree, while staying at MiraCosta College. This includes nursing, business administration, child development, and the newest, computer information technology.

“MiraCosta is diligent about ensuring our students have an opportunity ladder to learn a skill, obtain a career, and continue to build upon their higher educational journey.”

As an economic imperative for the region, MiraCosta College strives to help all our residents attain the education and skills required to contribute to our regional economy in a way that can sustain families. MiraCosta College is working closely with our regional economic development agencies to focus on inclusive economic development and is committed to expanding access to higher education to underserved communities through academic and financial support programs.

The event closed with the recognition of MiraCosta’s 2019 Business Philanthropist of the Year Tri-City Medical Center. For over ten years, Tri-City Medical Center has provided more than $50,000 in funding through sponsorships and campus programs, and more than $240,000 in scholarships in partnership with the Tri-City Medical Center Auxiliary. Tri-City not only provides vital financial support for future leaders in the medical field, but also provides essential opportunities through internships for MiraCosta College students, which leads to employment.

“MiraCosta College is YOUR community college. Please accept our sincere appreciation for all YOU do to SUPPORT OUR students through your partnership, your mentorship, your leadership, your internships, your financial support and your opening doors and opportunities for our graduates. Thank YOU!”

About MiraCosta College

The MiraCosta Community College District has served the coastal North San Diego County area for over 80 years. More than 21,000 credit students per semester in over 70 disciplines enroll in associate degrees, university transfer and workforce readiness certificate programs. The college also serves a wide spectrum of educational needs in the region ranging from programs for adult education, basic skills, and ESL to a California Community College pilot program offering the nation’s first baccalaureate degree in biomanufacturing. MiraCosta College is accredited by the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges (ACCJC) and the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC).