UCSB Ventura Students Appeal to Congresswoman Lois Capps

The Santa Barbara residents have no stronger advocate for education than Congresswoman Lois Capps.

UC Santa Barbara recently was awarded $36 million in grants to researchers through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. Chancellor Henry Yang praised the Congresswoman, saying, "We appreciate [Capps'] vision and leadership in recognizing the importance of investing in higher education, especially during these difficult economic times."

Congresswoman Capps also backs Santa Barbara's Fighting Back School Based Mentoring Program for youths age 8 to 14 in the Isla Vista area of Santa Barbara. Earlier this month she announced the award of over $450,000 in government funding.

Congresswoman Capps, (1990 M.A.) is a graduate of UC Santa Barbara and a stellar example of how one student earning an advanced degree can make an exponential amount of difference in the community. Capps strongly advocates for government investment in higher education and said she is proud of the university's accomplishments.

Plenty to be proud of

While there is plenty to be proud of on the main campus in Santa Barbara, which regularly is in the spotlight for exciting discoveries and breakthroughs in all areas of research, the students at the Ventura Center are also a source of pride.

Up until now, the Ventura Center has remained a quiet, unassuming part of the UC Santa Barbara campus, with non-traditional students going about their studies and graduating without bringing undue attention to themselves. More than 4,000 graduates of UCSB Ventura have humbly gone on to make contributions and give a boost to the community with their knowledge and expertise.

Students Unite to Fight

With the announcement that the Ventura Center would close because of budget cuts, students who have no other option for completing their degrees have come out of the woodwork to protest against the closure.

The students at Ventura Center are non-traditional students, meaning they aren't able to spend the day in classes during the week like regular students going from high school straight to college. Non-traditional students are usually older, with families, jobs, and other obligations that keep them from being full-time students on the main campus in Santa Barbara.

While their methods of earning a degree are non-traditional, you better believe that their desire for an education and a degree is much keener than the traditional student who is on campus full time. They have usually taken courses for many years at community colleges in order to meet transfer requirements. They have sacrificed in order to pay fees and buy books. They aren't going to let these sacrifices and all their hard work go for naught.

A request for Congresswoman Capps

As a staunch supporter of higher education, and a UCSB graduate yourself, the students at the UCSB Ventura Center are pleading for your help in continuing the Off Campus Study program until all enrolled students are able to complete the program they signed on for.

The students were promised a 2 to 2 1/2 year program. Some students relocated to the area to study. Some students gave up their jobs to focus on this program, believing it was better to sacrifice in the short term than be without secure employment in the long term.

People with real lives and families are counting on your support. The community will reap the benefits after these students earn degrees, students who otherwise might be a future burden on society. Please consider helping these determined men and women to find the $500,000 needed to keep the Ventura Center open.

Previous reports on the UCSB Ventura Center Closure:

UC Santa Barbara Off Campus Studies Program Terminated

UC Santa Barbara Students Fight for Ventura Center

UC Santa Barbara Ventura Center Students Fight Closure