Higher Education in Marina

By Margaret-Anne Mary Coppernoll

The two recent developments of an MPC campus in Marina, together with the recent reform of trustee selection by trustee areas within the district, provide new opportunities for Marina voters to have a voice in the operation of our own Marina campus.

In addition, a permanent MPC Education Center opened last year, here in Marina, just off Imjin Road, on the former Fort Ord, replacing small temporary classrooms. We now have a thriving, permanent Marina MPC campus.

These developments make for a unique opportunity. Marina voters, and those who live in CSUMB housing, now have their own nearby community-college campus AND can vote for their own MPC trustee.

As MPC Trustee I will continue to advocate for extended networking provided through the community college networking system that develops partnerships with business and industry, encourages small business assistance programs, and co-op work programs that bring student and workplace together. I am confident the new Marina campus, having expanded from 600 students to over 1500 today, will continue to expand and provide educational opportunities for Marina and other residents, and will result in the creation of quality jobs. In addition, the new health facilities in Marina (Wellness Center, Peninsula Primary care, and planned VA clinic) will bring new opportunities for MPC nursing students, as well as students preparing for the workplace in other related health fields such as dental assisting, EMT training, massage therapy, psychology, mental health, etc. I want to work toward a significant increase in the educational levels of Marina residents and those who travel to Marina to attend courses at MPC. To date, Marina has a high level, relative to other nearby areas, of people without a high school diploma and people with a baccalaureate degree. The new MPC Education Center at Marina, along with the new Marina High School, and the Marina/Seaside-based university, CSUMB, will change the calculus of this educational model. MPC can provide the bridge for people to complete general-education requirements that prepare them to transfer to four- year colleges. MPC can assist those without high-school diplomas to complete related course requirements, and, ultimately, associates' degrees.

In addition, MPC credentials 80% of our county's homeland security workforce in firefighters, law enforcement, and EMT's, and it trains 70% of our nurses. As trustee I want to continually strive for excellence in education and high success rates for MPC students. I will continue to support the MPC Foundation that supports quality faculty, student scholarships, interfacing with local businesses, and fundrasing.