Extra funding will allow IVC to expand programs

IMPERIAL — An additional $1 million in funding from the state this year will help Imperial Valley College provide additional opportunities for students.

The money will be used to help launch a new correctional academy, create a fulltime medical assistant program and provide funding for lighting around the running track on campus, said Dr. Martha Garcia, the college’s president and superintendent.

Dr. Garcia worked with Assemblyman Eduardo Garcia to secure the funding, which was included in the 2018-19 state budget, approved by Gov. Jerry Brown on June 27.

The $1 million was earmarked as funding for “Workforce Development in Economically Distressed Communities” and was awarded through the California Community Colleges Chancellor’s O ce, Dr. Garcia said.

Imperial County has been ranked the third poorest county in the state of California. IVC is the only public community college serving the area, with an average of more than 8,000 students enrolled per semester and demand for classes continuing to grow.

One of those areas of demand is in corrections and law enforcement. For instance, the Imperial County Sheri ’s O ce recently completed a $33 million standalone jail facility recently. This new jail is going to require its new hires to attend an academy for training purposes, Garcia said.

There is also considerable demand for law enforcement training from organizations like Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Garcia said adding lighting to its track area will allow IVC to offer law enforcement classes at night. There is a lot of physical training involved in the law enforcement program, but because the college’s track isn’t currently lighted, those classes can only be offered during daytime hours, which is problematic during summer months, she said.

Funds will also be used to help speed up the medical assistant program at IVC. As of now the program can take up to three years to complete, Garcia said. The extra state funding will enable IVC to train and have more jobready medical assistants through the program in half the time.

Investments like these help to create highskilled careers in local industries here and create an economy that is self-sufficient, Garcia said.