Kudos to Gavilan Community College trustees and administrators
for taking a long-overdue fresh look at the 25-acre parcel that
currently is home to the Gavilan Golf Course.
Kudos to Gavilan Community College trustees and administrators for taking a long-overdue fresh look at the 25-acre parcel that currently is home to the Gavilan Golf Course.
The use of this valuable land for a sub-par golf course is very likely not the best use of this parcel. Recognizing this, Gavilan trustees recently hired a consultant to study the best use of the land, which is located on the south end of the campus. It has been used as a golf course since the mid-1960s.
One idea officials are considering – and it’s a plan with a great deal of appeal – is using the site as a university center that will expand opportunities for students to pursue four-year degrees. South Valley has no four-year colleges or universities, so these relationships will be key to helping residents obtain four-year degrees close to home.
The diversification of Gavilan’s offerings, especially its relationships with San Jose State University and CalState Monterey Bay, has been one of many smart moves made by Gavilan officials in the last few years. We’ll reserve final judgment until the consultant’s study is finished, but constructing a facility that would allow further expansion of those relationships and offerings seems to be a no-brainer.
Gavilan trustees have also done a good job managing the financial crises caused by the state’s chronic budget mess, and seems to be spending its bond money wisely as well.
Attending Gavilan for the first two years of college makes a lot of sense financially – and we’re not just talking about 18-year-olds. In our layoff-riddled job market marked by ever-changing technologies, continuing education is a smart move for adults who have been in the labor market for years.
For Gavilan to remain a relevant institution for residents of South County, and the Coyote Valley in the not-too-distant future, anticipating and then meeting the needs of the community will be critical. We think converting the golf course to a university center is a great way to accomplish that and merits further study.
To respond to this editorial or comment on issues in the community, e-mail
ed******@mo*************.com
, mail to Editor, Morgan Hill Times, 30 E. Third St., 95037, or drop off at our office in the downtown.
