After being pushed back multiple times, the Bakersfield College Arvin Educational Center (AEC) is now set to open its doors for the Spring 2025 semester.
In early 2018, the City of Arvin gifted a plot of land to Bakersfield College to build the Arvin campus that residents spent years advocating for. With approximately 20 miles between the Bakersfield campus and the Arvin city limits, commuting to and from the college can be a hardship for the Arvin community.
Originally, BC officials promised to break ground in the Spring of 2018 and open a campus in 2021, according to a report by The Bakersfield Californian. Then the project got pushed back again in 2019, when BC said construction was set to begin in August 2021. Construction was then pushed back one more time until the groundbreaking finally happened in May 2022.
“The Bakersfield College Arvin Educational Center is a highly anticipated addition to our community, set to open its doors in the spring of 2025. While construction is progressing, we’ve encountered some supply chain issues with the switch gear, a device crucial for controlling the electric power system. As a result, the center’s opening has been rescheduled from fall 2024,” announced Isabel Castaneda, a Program Manager for the AEC.
Castaneda continued by stating: “However, we are committed to providing uninterrupted education to our students. Therefore, Bakersfield College will be offering general education classes and non-credit courses at Arvin High School, conveniently located right across from the AEC. These classes will be held Monday through Thursday, ensuring a seamless transition for our students.”
Castaneda also stated that the building is an impressive sight, covering an area of 27,300 square feet.
“Its modern design stands out in the neighborhood and is expected to bring top-notch education to many Arvin and Lamont residents,” said Castaneda.
The AEC will offer a range of facilities, including eight classrooms (five regular classrooms, two computer labs, and one science lab), a tutoring center, a writing center, a library, a bookstore/student space, 15 faculty/staff offices, a food pantry/SGA room, and a lactation room.
The center will also provide various programs and certificates such as General Education/Liberal Arts (AA), Ag Business (ADT/COA), Culinary Arts (ADT), Nursing/Health, Hospitality (ADT), Community Health Worker (JSC), Health Navigator (JSC) (fall 2025), Business Office Skills (JSC/NC), EMT (JSC), CPR & AED (NC), Introduction to Early Care and Education Certificate (NC), EMLS (NC), and Welding (COA/JSC).
“In terms of student support services, the AEC will offer financial aid, counseling and educational advising, tutoring, and writing services, Disabled Students Programs and Services (DSPS), EOP&S/CARE/CalWORKs/AB540, admissions and records, library, student life and student government, food pantry, and college safety. It’s important to note that some services may be offered part-time,” Castaneda stated.
The AEC is part of the Measure J project which brought in $25.9 million for this project. Measure J won the vote in 2016 and was passed in 2017 at the April Board of Trustees meeting.
An early college program will also be offered at the AEC where high school students can take college courses while still in high school to receive an associate’s degree when they graduate high school.
