Chapman University is now offering upper-division courses at Yuba College during evening hours, reported Vice-President of Student Services, Paul Mendoza. Presently, Chapman is leasing room 513 on the Marysville campus from the district to host one upper-division social science course.
Currently, the Chapman program at Yuba is in an experimental phase. However, Mendoza stated that there is the potential for the program to expand by offering more upper-division courses, expanding the articulation agreement with Yuba College and increasing outreach activities at local high schools. Moreover, there are plans to investigate what interest there might be on the part of the University of Phoenix to offer classes at the Yuba campus.
Chapman students will have access to parking facilities, library and lower-division courses at Yuba College. Yuba students will now be able to enroll concurrently in upper division units without traveling to a distant university campus.
Mendoza stressed the dual benefits of the program. “Chapman students can take lower division units in a ‘reverse transfer.’ Yuba students will also be able to sample upper division units,” he explained.
The primary goal of the Chapman program is to increase the rate at which Yuba College students actually transfer to four-year universities. Mendoza reported that 35 to 37 percent of “transfer-ready” students, those that have declared they are committed to transferring, actually successfully transfer. Chapman University courses will provide such students the opportunity to sample upper-division work and progress toward their degrees before actually relocating to Chico, Sacramento, Davis or other college communities.
Mendoza said that Yuba College classrooms are underutilized during both the day and evening. The alliance with Chapman University and other educational institutions is designed to better utilize Yuba College’s assets and increase educational opportunities for the community. He added, “The community doesn’t know the benefit of a community college. They don’t know how to use the college.”
Currently, the one Chapman course being taught is in social sciences. However, if the program is expanded, future possibilities are to offer courses in criminal justice training and courses as part of a teacher-credentialing program.
Yuba students should be warned that Chapman units cannot be earned at Yuba College prices. Mendoza estimated that a Chapman unit would cost between $400 and $500. This could result in significant sticker shock on the part of Yuba students. Mendoza added that there exists the possibility for a reduced tuition program for Yuba students. However, this program has yet to be established.
Chapman University is a fully accredited institution and is a member of the Western Association of Schools and Colleges. The University can be contacted toll-free at 866-CHAPMAN or at their web site at www.chapman.edu.
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