Cuyamaca College
Encyclopedia
Cuyamaca Community College is a community college
in the San Diego County
community of Rancho San Diego
, near El Cajon, California
. Along with Grossmont College
it serves the eastern suburbs in the San Diego area
. Cuyamaca opened in 1978 and now offers 59 associate's degree
programs and almost 66 training certification programs to approximately 10,000 students. Many of the college's students transfer to the University of California at San Diego
or San Diego State University
to complete their bachelor's degrees. Cuyamaca's mascot is the coyote
.
is located in the community of Rancho San Diego on a 165 acres (66.8 ha) site which was at one time a part of the Old Monte Vista Ranch. Cuyamaca College is one of two colleges serving the Grossmont-Cuyamaca Community College District
.
The name for the college was selected by the Board of Trustees, as a reflection of the history and heritage of this area of San Diego County. One historian notes that "The very old Indian name 'Cuyamaca' has persisted through Spanish, Mexican and American times", and has, at various times, been "applied to mountains, lakes, valleys and ranches." Writers have interpreted the Indian meaning of the name in various ways, including "above rain" and "place where the rain comes from heavens".
The building site was acquired by the Board of Trustees in September 1972, and the college officially opened in the Fall of 1978. The second phase of buildings was completed in January 1980. In 1989, the Learning Resource Center opened. The campus consists of eight classroom buildings and is also the site of the Heritage of the Americas Museum and the Water Conservation Garden.
In the Spring of 1995, Rancho San Diego Parkway, the Fury Lane entrance road, was completed, providing students easier access to the College.
In the Fall of 1995, the college dedicated a new 20.3 acres (8.2 ha) physical education facility with a fitness center, gym, tennis and volleyball courts, soccer and ball fields and an Olympic-size track.
A new Student Services Center opened in the Spring 2001 to provide one-stop student services at the Rancho San Diego Parkway entrance. The Child Development Center and Math Learning Center opened in Fall 2001. On April 19, 2007, the new Science and Technology Center had its grand opening; October 11, 2007 was the new Student Center grand opening and then on January 31, 2008, the Communication Arts Center opened.
Construction implementation is occurring on an incremental basis in response to the growing community surrounding the college and to meet the educational needs in the Grossmont-Cuyamaca Community College District. The college is designed to provide a comprehensive curriculum of programs and course of study, and when completed, will accommodate an enrollment of approximately 15,000 students in 2015.
As Of January 1, 2009, Cuyamaca College is a smoke-free and tobacco-free campus in accordance with GCCCD Governing Board Policy BP 3560.
Community college
A community college is a type of educational institution. The term can have different meanings in different countries.-Australia:Community colleges carry on the tradition of adult education, which was established in Australia around mid 19th century when evening classes were held to help adults...
in the San Diego County
San Diego County, California
San Diego County is a large county located in the southwestern corner of the US state of California. Hence, San Diego County is also located in the southwestern corner of the 48 contiguous United States. Its county seat and largest city is San Diego. Its population was about 2,813,835 in the 2000...
community of Rancho San Diego
Rancho San Diego, California
Rancho San Diego is a census-designated place in San Diego County, California. The population was 21,208 at the 2010 census, up from 20,155 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Rancho San Diego is located at ....
, near El Cajon, California
El Cajon, California
-History:El Cajon is located on the Rancho El Cajon Mexican land grant made in 1845 to María Antonia Estudillo, wife of Miguel Pedrorena. In 1876 Amaziah Lord Knox , a New Englander who had recently moved to California, established a hotel there to serve the growing number of people traveling...
. Along with Grossmont College
Grossmont College
Grossmont College is a community college located in El Cajon, California, in the county of San Diego. The campus sits in the Fletcher Hills community of El Cajon and is bordered by the cities of San Diego and Santee. Grossmont College is one of the two colleges that make up the Grossmont-Cuyamaca...
it serves the eastern suburbs in the San Diego area
San Diego County, California
San Diego County is a large county located in the southwestern corner of the US state of California. Hence, San Diego County is also located in the southwestern corner of the 48 contiguous United States. Its county seat and largest city is San Diego. Its population was about 2,813,835 in the 2000...
. Cuyamaca opened in 1978 and now offers 59 associate's degree
Associate's degree
An associate degree is an undergraduate academic degree awarded by community colleges, junior colleges, technical colleges, and bachelor's degree-granting colleges and universities upon completion of a course of study usually lasting two years...
programs and almost 66 training certification programs to approximately 10,000 students. Many of the college's students transfer to the University of California at San Diego
University of California, San Diego
The University of California, San Diego, commonly known as UCSD or UC San Diego, is a public research university located in the La Jolla neighborhood of San Diego, California, United States...
or San Diego State University
San Diego State University
San Diego State University , founded in 1897 as San Diego Normal School, is the largest and oldest higher education facility in the greater San Diego area , and is part of the California State University system...
to complete their bachelor's degrees. Cuyamaca's mascot is the coyote
Coyote
The coyote , also known as the American jackal or the prairie wolf, is a species of canine found throughout North and Central America, ranging from Panama in the south, north through Mexico, the United States and Canada...
.
History
Cuyamaca CollegeCuyamaca College
Cuyamaca Community College is a community college in the San Diego County community of Rancho San Diego, near El Cajon, California. Along with Grossmont College it serves the eastern suburbs in the San Diego area. Cuyamaca opened in 1978 and now offers 59 associate's degree programs and almost 66...
is located in the community of Rancho San Diego on a 165 acres (66.8 ha) site which was at one time a part of the Old Monte Vista Ranch. Cuyamaca College is one of two colleges serving the Grossmont-Cuyamaca Community College District
Grossmont-Cuyamaca Community College District
The Grossmont–Cuyamaca Community College District is a California community college district comprising two colleges, Grossmont College and Cuyamaca College...
.
The name for the college was selected by the Board of Trustees, as a reflection of the history and heritage of this area of San Diego County. One historian notes that "The very old Indian name 'Cuyamaca' has persisted through Spanish, Mexican and American times", and has, at various times, been "applied to mountains, lakes, valleys and ranches." Writers have interpreted the Indian meaning of the name in various ways, including "above rain" and "place where the rain comes from heavens".
The building site was acquired by the Board of Trustees in September 1972, and the college officially opened in the Fall of 1978. The second phase of buildings was completed in January 1980. In 1989, the Learning Resource Center opened. The campus consists of eight classroom buildings and is also the site of the Heritage of the Americas Museum and the Water Conservation Garden.
In the Spring of 1995, Rancho San Diego Parkway, the Fury Lane entrance road, was completed, providing students easier access to the College.
In the Fall of 1995, the college dedicated a new 20.3 acres (8.2 ha) physical education facility with a fitness center, gym, tennis and volleyball courts, soccer and ball fields and an Olympic-size track.
A new Student Services Center opened in the Spring 2001 to provide one-stop student services at the Rancho San Diego Parkway entrance. The Child Development Center and Math Learning Center opened in Fall 2001. On April 19, 2007, the new Science and Technology Center had its grand opening; October 11, 2007 was the new Student Center grand opening and then on January 31, 2008, the Communication Arts Center opened.
Construction implementation is occurring on an incremental basis in response to the growing community surrounding the college and to meet the educational needs in the Grossmont-Cuyamaca Community College District. The college is designed to provide a comprehensive curriculum of programs and course of study, and when completed, will accommodate an enrollment of approximately 15,000 students in 2015.
As Of January 1, 2009, Cuyamaca College is a smoke-free and tobacco-free campus in accordance with GCCCD Governing Board Policy BP 3560.