UC Santa Barbara Students Fight for Ventura Center

Tears began to flow down her cheeks, so overcome by emotion that she was unable to finish her story of how she is the first in her family to go to college. She was just admitted into the program at the Ventura Center this quarter, only to find that the doors were being slammed shut on her dream just days after attending her first class.

On October 15, students filled a classroom at UCSB's Ventura Center along with supportive graduates of the program and one professor. Each had a chance to tell Michael Brown, Acting Dean of UCSB Off Campus Studies, why the Ventura Center was important to them personally and important to the community.

A young man with Asperger's Syndrome was attending his class next door while his mother sat in to represent him at the meeting. A single parent, she works full time to support herself and her son. The young man's 85 year old grandparents make sure he gets to class and his mom picks him up after she gets off work. She is determined to help him get through college and "be a viable member of society and not someone with a disability".

One married couple, who have three children with autism, are students at the Ventura Center, working toward degrees to increase their chances of better jobs and a more secure future for their family.

A young woman from Fillmore hasn't been able to find a job since leaving high school in 2004 and has been working toward her degree slowly but surely. She finally has reached the last stage of her education only to have it pulled from her grasp.

A single father saw an opportunity to earn an advanced degree when he was laid off, using the time while unemployed to invest in the future.

Working for a school district in Special Ed for $13.98 per hour, one 42 year old single mom says she will do whatever it takes to earn her Masters in Education. "It's hard to start such an endeavor at this age", but her goal is to focus on school, education and the future.

The moderator of the meeting, another student struggling to get by in hard times, humbled herself and gave details of financial hardships and exhausting commutes with the bus to the main campus in Santa Barbara. She explained how this left her physically ill at the end of the day, unable to do anything except sleep once she returned home. She's lucky to have a home, owing four months back rent after making her school fees a higher priority than the roof over her head. Luckily she has an understanding landlord, but her hopes for earning a degree and turning her life around are fading with the closure of Ventura Center.

What UCSB Ventura Center students have in common

Each student had their own unique story to tell, but there were many things these non-traditional students have in common. Most have families to support, they're working one or two jobs, they've been taking classes at community colleges which were more affordable, working their way toward a transfer to UCSB Ventura Center. Most of these students have been going to community college part time for many years to complete transfer requirements.

The students, working closely with Martha Alcantar, the Off Campus Studies Advisor, were promised a program that would last from 2 to 2 1/2 years at the Ventura Center. Together, they mapped out a plan for successful completion of a degree that would fit into their schedule. No matter what the circumstances, each and every student was filled with hope because they saw exactly what they had to do and that it was within their power to do it.

These students live in the area and, because of family and work obligations, find it impossible to attend classes at the main campus in Santa Barbara. They pay UC fees, buy text books and attend classes just like the students at the main campus, but for bureaucratic reasons, are having their only option for education taken away from them.

What's so special about UCSB Ventura Center?

Besides having advisors and professors who are friendly, helpful and accessible, the Ventura Center offers classes at the hours non-traditional students are able to take them. Ventura Center offers majors that aren't offered at CSU Channel Islands, which keeps CSUCI from being a viable alternative. Classes are smaller, which is a blessing for students who have serious issues with being on a large campus with large groups of people. The non-traditional students do better in an environment with others their own age who are also dedicated students with similar life circumstances. There are no expensive parking fees at Ventura Center, and more importantly, no commute time to Santa Barbara, which is often longer than the class itself.

Taking the bull by the horns

The students aren't going to let the Ventura Center close without a fight. They were told that the program runs on a mere $500,000 per year and they are determined to find sponsorship, an endowment, or some other way to reach their goal of a university degree.

Students meet at Ventura Center on Thursdays at 7pm to discuss options and strategies for keeping the Ventura Center open. Any interested members of the community are encouraged to attend to offer advice or support. Watch for updates to this story on the author's home page and on Facebook: Save UCSB Ventura Campus.