August 19, 2007

New community college opens today in Tustin
School on the old Tustin base offers high-tech programs, officials say.
By JORGE BARRIENTOS
THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

TUSTIN – Bob Schureman, a design model-making technical coordinator, demonstrates the possibilities at the Advanced Technology & Education Park, a new community college opening today in Tustin:

* A copy of the 3.2 million-year-old Lucy skull.
* A model of a car that can go cross-country on a single tank of gas.
* A cloth resistant to fire.

All are made using technology that students can learn to use at the new campus on the old Tustin Marine helicopter base.

The college, part of South Orange County Community College District which includes Irvine Valley and Saddleback colleges, offers what college officials call revolutionary, high-tech educational programs.

The college will teach courses in optics and photonics, design model-making and prototyping, and courses in information security. The college will also offer courses transferable from Irvine Valley and Saddleback College in languages, math and humanities, among others. It also plans to have companies working with the campus to employ students.

The high-tech, market-driven courses offered at ATEP, combined with a collaborative effort with local colleges, make the college "unique," said Robert Kopecky, provost for the campus.

"What we have here is literally one of a kind throughout the nation," Kopecky said. "We're kind of on the leading edge here."

The campus, which costs $10 million to build on one of 68 acres it owns, will offer courses from its sister colleges, but plans to stand alone among community colleges in Orange County, said Raghu Mathur, chancellor of the district.

Mathur said plans include:

* Building studios and stages for the filming of movies and television programs.
* Working with Cal State Fullerton and/or Chapman University to offer courses in film and television.
* Expanding the district's nursing program to ATEP.
* Developing all 68 acres at an estimated cost of $1.2 billion, according to tentative long-term plans.

The district approved $7 million recently to demolish vacant buildings near the site that can't be used. The campus is built with energy-efficient standards using 97 percent recycled steel, efficient lighting and other sustainable construction products.

About 320 students have registered so far, and officials expect enrollment to increase as classes begin.