Mt. San Jacinto College (MSJC) and city officials gathered on  September 13, 2019 for the Temecula Transformation Celebration event to kick off the renovation of the new Temecula Valley Campus.

Temecula Mayor Mike Naggar praised the MSJC Board of Trustees, MSJC leadership, including Dr. Roger Schultz, college district superintendent/president, and city leaders, like City Manager Aaron Adams and Councilman Matt Rahn, for working on an innovative solution to bring higher education to the region.

Dr. Schultz thanked the city, the MSJC trustees and recognized the contractors: CW Driver, KPFF, and 19six, which recently won an award for renovation design.

Tom Ashley, the MSJC board member who represents Temecula and the surrounding region, said his son will be in the first class when the Temecula Valley Campus is fully renovated. He said he told his son how a transfer degree from MSJC will get him into a four-year university.

“That conversation now gets to happen with thousands of our local residents, like look what’s here. You can go here now” because of the new campus, Ashley said.

The college district used voter-approved Measure AA funds on March 16, 2018 to purchase two five-story office buildings at 41888 Motorcar Parkway in Temecula. Purchasing an existing facility saves taxpayer dollars and expedites the District’s ability to provide access to quality higher education much sooner than needed for new construction. Since the purchase, MSJC provided time for the seller to move out, started work on infrastructure, and sought proposals for renovation to meet the Division of State Architect requirements.

The Temecula Valley Campus will welcome students in Fall 2020. The campus will provide students 22 classrooms, 6 science labs, and 5 computer classrooms. It will also offer a Learning Resource Center, Library, Student Life, Health Center, Veterans Center, and Student Services – including enrollment, counseling and financial aid. The campus also will feature a bookstore, café, art studio, career center, transfer center, and campus safety.

Rachel Abelgas, a Murrieta resident who graduated from MSJC in May and served as a student speaker at the MSJC Commencement ceremony, made it a point to attend Friday’s event.

“The Temecula Valley Campus is a great opportunity for incoming students because it’s closer to where they live,” she said. “I wish it was here when I went to school so I wouldn’t have always had to drive to the Menifee Valley Campus. But that’s OK. I am very glad it’s here.”

Mt. San Jacinto College serves about 27,000 students in a district covering 1,700 square miles from the San Gorgonio Pass to Temecula, with campuses in San Jacinto, Menifee, Banning and Temecula.

In May 2019, Mt. San Jacinto College awarded a record-breaking 3,314 degrees and certificates to 1,707 graduates.