CBT: The College Brain Trust

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CBT Case Studies

MiraCosta Community College District

In 2010 and 2011, the College Brain Trust team led by Eva Conrad, undertook a major planning effort on behalf of one of California’s very best community colleges, MiraCosta. Other CBT consultants includes Rocky Young, Julie Slark, John Spevak and Carolyn Russell. They were assisted by EMSI, the nation’s premier demographic and data analysis firm. In a letter to the residents of the college district, Superintendent/President Francisco Rodriguez described the project and its impact on students and the community.

Letter from the President

In 1932, when a furnished house in Oceanside rented for around 13 dollars a month and a hamburger sold for 10 cents a pound, talk of establishing a community college in North San Diego County started. Though the idea was initially rejected, it soon became evident that an economically shaken Oceanside needed a way to provide local students with a college education without having to leave town. In 1934, the Oceanside - Carlsbad Junior College Department of the Oceanside High School District, now known as MiraCosta College, opened its doors to 20 faculty members and 130 students. In 1964, increased local demand for higher education prompted the college to move to its current Barnard Drive location in Oceanside. Over the years, MiraCosta College has continued to meet our community’s needs by building the San Elijo Campus in Cardiff and the Community Learning Center in downtown Oceanside. Today, MiraCosta College educates more than 14,500 credit students and another 8,000 noncredit students each semester. While much has changed in the past 77 years, MiraCosta College’s strong commitment to student success, focus on academic excellence and innovation, and dedication to serve the local community have remained consistent. These are the hallmarks of MiraCosta College, and they remain at the forefront as we plan for the future. The 2011 Master Plan for MiraCosta College is more than just a planning document. It is centered on the needs of our students and community and provides a vision of what the college will look like in the next decade. It also gives the necessary guidance to get us there. This Master Plan is the result of thoughtful collaboration among MiraCosta College faculty, staff, students, community members and the governing board. In true collegial fashion, the college community participated in a multi-year process of educational program review and facilities planning derived from forecasted student enrollment, local employment projections and future economic growth of the region.

Just as the growth of our surrounding community is central to the growth of the college, MiraCosta College’s expansion is paramount to the economic growth of the coastal North San Diego County region. Over the next decade, The 2011 Master Plan points to an exceptional learning experience with thousands more students transferring to four-year institutions, entering our local workforce and participating in lifelong learning opportunities.

I am proud to present this document, and am excited about what it means for both our college and community. I want to expressly thank the members of the MiraCosta College Master Plan Committee, the governing board, the architectural firm of HMC, and the College Brain Trust for their skill and dedication to the planning process. Their collective commitment to listening to the voices of all constituents and our community has led to a strong final document that is as inclusive as it is visionary.

MiraCosta College has a proud history of serving coastal North San Diego County. As we enter into our next phase of growth, this document will serve as a reflection of not just who we are, but who we aspire to be. The next decade at MiraCosta College is poised to be one of exciting advancements, excellent learning opportunities, and continued commitment to the success of students and service to this region.

Francisco C. Rodriguez, Ph.D.
Superintendent/President