A record number of local community college students will graduate or receive certificates in the coming days, the San Diego & Imperial Counties Community Colleges Association announced Monday.
More than 25,000 students across the association’s 10 colleges are slated to finish school this spring.
Grossmont College boasts the association’s largest graduating class; it will award more than 4,200 degrees and certificates — a 17 percent increase from 2017.
Southwestern College will award 3,381 degrees and certificates to its largest-ever graduating class.
Cuyamaca College will see a 22 percent increase in degrees and certificates this year, while Miramar, City and Mesa colleges will award 32, 14 and 8 percent more associate degrees this year, respectively.
Sustained state investment in community college student support and success programs following the Great Recession is at least partially responsible for the uptick in graduations, San Diego Community College District spokesman Jack Beresford said.
Funding in recent years has supported orientations, education plans and increased counseling office hours that weren’t previously found at many local community colleges, Beresford said.
“It used to be students would just walk up the first day of class — now we’re emphasizing a lot of the same services universities offer. They’re essential to student success, and we’re really finally seeing the benefits of steady investment,” he said. “We’re very proud to see more of our students earning degrees and transferring.”
— City News Service
