MSJC welcomes 16,037 students to spring semester

Natalie and Lauren Van Jindelt of Hemet started their first day of the spring semester at MSJC on Monday. Photo courtesy of MSJC

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Sunny skies and brisk air greeted Mt. San Jacinto College students as they kicked off the first day of the spring 2020 semester on Monday.

Lilian Balli and Jasmine Trujillo, both 18, were prepared for their psychology and English classes at MSJC’s San Gorgonio Pass Campus in Banning and secured online courses as well. The full-time students appreciated being able to receive financial aid and get same-day counseling and were grateful to have a college campus so close to home.

"I feel like it’s making it a lot easier for me” to earn a degree, Balli said. “It’s making it (college) more accessible."

A total of 16,037 students registered for spring classes across the Mt. San Jacinto Community College District. MSJC serves more than 26,500 students a year at four sites — the San Jacinto Campus, Menifee Valley Campus, San Gorgonio Pass Campus in Banning, and the Temecula Higher Education Center – and several off-site locations. The district serves 1,700 square miles that stretch from the San Gorgonio Pass to Temecula and from Idyllwild to Lake Elsinore.

Adrian Ledesma of San Jacinto plans to complete his final semester as an office administration major before transferring to University of California, Riverside.

"The resources are great! Getting involved and getting enrolled was effortless and I was able to get what I needed," said Ledesma, an Army veteran who helps fellow veterans with enrolling and accessing their benefits from MSJC’s Veterans Resource Center at the San Jacinto Campus.

Natalie and Lauren Van Jindelt of Hemet started their first day of the spring semester at the Menifee Valley Campus. The sisters said they've now taken classes at both the San Jacinto and Menifee campuses and appreciated each of them.

Natalie Van Jindelt hasn't decided on a major yet but is focused on getting through her general education courses.

"I’m taking ballet for kicks this semester," she said. "I’m looking forward to my political science class. I just thought that was interesting when I took it in high school."

Lauren Van Jindelt is majoring in art and hopes to work as an animator at Pixar Animation Studios.

"I started art in high school and just enjoyed it," she said, noting that she looked forward to her 2D Art class this semester.

In Fall 2020, MSJC will welcome students to its new Temecula Valley Campus at 41888 Motorcar Parkway in Temecula. The campus will provide students 22 classrooms, six science labs, and five 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.

In May 2019, Mt. San Jacinto College awarded a record-breaking 3,338 degrees and certificates to 1,723 graduates.