Fresno City College’s new West Fresno Center is set to open for the Fall 2023 semester.
Near the intersection of Church and Walnut avenues, the new campus will offer roughly 24 courses at the opening.
“The West Fresno Center will improve access to higher education for students living in and around the West Fresno campus. We currently have great partnerships with West Fresno high schools that will provide students with a great opportunity to get a head start on their college education,” FCC Career Technology Center dean Gurminder Sangha said.
According to Sangha, classes currently available include Health and STEM Pathways, Culture, Tech and Trade Pathways, Society Pathways, Business, and Education.
Fresno City Council Member Miguel Arias is ready for this next chapter in FCC history.
“This project is of great personal pride. When this endeavor got approved, I was a trustee for the State Center Community College Trustee Board. Now as the sitting Council Member for District 3, I am seeing the fruition of this project come to life,” Arias said.
Land for the new campus was obtained in 2018, and construction started in October 2020 after receiving input from faculty, staff, administration, and the community on the campus facilities.
The COVID-19 pandemic delayed the construction process of the Advanced Transportation Center used for trade courses like welding and automotive technology. According to Austin Nelson, project superintendent for Harris Construction, the building construction will not be finished till around mid-August of 2023 with courses starting in the spring.
The $86.5 million project is funded by $70 million from facilities bonds and $16.5 million from the City of Fresno’s Transformative Climate Community allotment from the state.
The long-range planning for the West Fresno Center will be included in the Fresno City College Educational Master plan and the SCCCD State Center 2035 integrated planning process. The planning will include continued collaboration between Fresno City College and the West Fresno community to ensure programs and services meet their educational goals and future workforce needs.
Currently, available courses can be found on FCC’s website.
