Fresno Offers Classes at Sequoias : Campus Is Reaching Out for Teachers

FRESNO — Because studies show that California will need an additional 90,000 teachers before the end of the century, California State University, Fresno is reaching out into the community to find prospective teacher candidates.

President Harold Haak says that, beginning in the fall, the university will start offering classes at the College of the Sequoias campus in Visalia leading to a four-year degree and an elementary school teaching credential.

Under the program, which Haak said will be the foundation for a future series of programs to provide four-year degrees off the main campus, Fresno professors will teach a full range of classes leading to a liberal arts degree at the two-year community college campus.

“We’re designing the program for students in the Tulare County area who, because of daytime jobs or other restrictions, cannot attend Fresno State University,” Haak said. “We are offering them the classes they need for a college degree and teaching credential.”

Late Afternoon and Evening

He said most of the classes would be offered during the late afternoon and early evening hours, partially to avoid causing more parking congestion on the College of Sequoias campus and partially because that is what many prospective students have indicated will best suit their needs.

COS, which grants only two-year associate of arts or associate of science degrees, will furnish space and some clerical support for the new FSU program, but most of the administration and all of the instruction will be done by university personnel.

The idea of offering students living near the COS campus a chance to obtain a four-year degree was broached last year by Lincoln Hall, COS president.

“We became aware last year that several hundred teacher aides in Tulare County wanted to continue their pursuit of a teaching credential but could not attend classes in Fresno,” Hall said. “We had more than 700 teachers aides participate in a teacher-training program and that made us aware of the need for a four-year degree program in the area.”

Made Contact Last Fall

He said he contacted Haak last fall with the liberal arts degree proposal.

“We are hoping this will be the first step in a program that eventually will have Fresno State offering a variety of four-year degrees at the COS campus,” Hall said.

Haak said the program, which will begin in the fall semester with three upper-division classes, will provide a 12-course offering over the next two years.

“How quickly the offerings grow toward other types of degrees depends on the response we get to the initial program and the demand for other programs,” Haak said. “We are confident there will be a good response for the teacher program and that it will lead to demand for other courses of instruction.”

Hall said the cost to COS for the program would be minimal.

“We’re providing classroom space, some office space and parking,” Hall said. “Fresno State will provide most of the staff, all the materials and all the instructors.”

However, he said that if demand for this program and others is sufficient, it could mean COS will have to provide additional facilities in the years to come.

“We are actually hoping that situation arises,” he said. “It would mean that there is active interest in upper-division college classes in this area.”