San Mateo County Pilots New Free College Program

By Kate Bradshaw
January 13, 2023

For the first time, the San Mateo Community College District has waived the tuition and enrollment costs for all of its classes this spring as part of a new pilot program for county residents. The district includes three community colleges: Cañada College in Redwood City, College of San Mateo and Skyline College in San Bruno. Classes start on Jan. 17.

The community college district is the only one in the state offering free tuition for San Mateo County residents. The new fee reduction is the result of legislation from state Sen. Josh Becker, Senate Bill 893, which was signed by Gov. Gavin Newsom in September. The bill waives the normal statewide $46 per credit enrollment fees for community college classes for San Mateo County residents only – partly because it is an area with such a high cost of living, Bay City News reported. Additionally, students with demonstrated financial need can also be exempt from having to pay other fees and supply costs. There are an estimated 6,000 students who stand to benefit from waiving the enrollment fees.

“It is my hope that this bill will help families use community college as a stepping stone to improving their economic mobility and their future,” Becker said in a press statement.

So far, the cost reduction has boosted student enrollment by about 13% compared with a year ago, according to San Mateo County Community College District spokesperson Ana Maria Pulido.

And for other county residents not looking to nab a career certification, the biggest perk of free tuition and enrollment may be the ability to access the colleges’ gyms by just signing up for a couple of classes.

By taking just six credits or more – the equivalent of about two classes – county residents are eligible for the district’s student rates at its two top-tier athletic facilities at Cañada College and College of San Mateo.

For students 18 and up, the first two months of gym membership are free, and for students who check in 15 times per month, the gym membership is entirely free. If students visit less than 15 times a month, the fee is $15 per month, according to Pulido. Otherwise, the fees for community members are about $72 a month with additional enrollment fees.

Cañada College’s kinesiology and wellness building in Redwood City. Photo courtesy Cañada College

And the gyms are beautifully maintained. At Cañada’s new athletic center – visible from Highway 280 as the giant glowing, modern-looking building on the hill near the Farm Hill Road exit – there are two outdoor pools, classrooms and rows of cardio equipment and weights looking out into the Santa Cruz Mountains. Reservations are required for group exercise classes, swimming lanes and pickleball courts, but as of mid-January, few gym classes or pool sessions had reached full enrollment numbers. Additional discounts are available for San Mateo County school employees.

I scoured the course catalogs to find some of the most interesting courses on offer this semester and compiled my top 20 for your consideration.

Original Article here