Rancho Cucamonga, CA – More than 21,900 new and returning students started classes on August 20 at Chaffey College’s campuses in Rancho Cucamonga, Fontana and Chino, as well as for online and hybrid courses.

Chaffey Superintendent/President Dr. Henry D. Shannon expressed excitement for the new year, saying that students will get to experience new high-quality programs, faculty and support services.

“Chaffey College continues to grow,” Shannon said. “From students just out of high school, to adult learners who want to advance their careers, more and more people are choosing Chaffey to further their education. We are ready to serve students from all walks of life.”

The students starting classes include more than 4,100 enrolled in distance learning courses – classes that are online or partially online. In the coming weeks, Chaffey will enroll nearly 1,000 high school students in courses taught by Chaffey faculty on high school campuses. These students will begin pursuing their college degrees for free while also pursuing their high school diplomas.

Sixteen new faculty members – teaching subjects from automotive technology and fashion design to chemistry and English – joined students for the start of the fall semester.

Meridith Randall, associate superintendent of the office of instruction and institutional effectiveness, called the new instructors a talented group with a wide variety of backgrounds and experiences and devotion to student success.

The college also introduced numerous new programs for fall.

They include events planning, avionics, heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC), arts business management and social media.

“Two of the strongest job markets in the area continue to be supply chain management and healthcare, but there are many emerging industries that will require trained workers,” Randall said. “And most employers continue to need employees with bachelor’s degrees or above, so we have added transfer programs and have built connections with both public and private four-year colleges.”

Chaffey will launch 11 for-credit sections of Career Technical Educational courses on adult school campuses through coordination with the West End Corridor Adult Education Consortium, more than any college of an adult education consortium in the state.

Also rolling out in the new academic year will be a center dedicated to student clubs and underserved populations. The Center for Culture and Social Justice – located in the administration building in Rancho Cucamonga – will celebrate its grand opening on Aug. 28.