15744 Golden West Street  *  Huntington Beach,  CA  *  92647-2748
714/895-8367   *   714/895-8269 fax   *   http://www.gwc.cccd.edu
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                                           Copy by Marc S. Posner
                                         714/892-7711, ext. 55057
                                                 mposner@cccd.edu
                                                   April 24, 2000
                                                   Release: 00-24

INCOMING FRESHMEN IN S.O.A.R. PROGRAM
NOW HAVE PRIORITY REGISTRATION

Golden West College is re-writing the rules again. Last semester,
the Huntington Beach college became the county’s first to
initiate an innovative 16-week semester. Now, GWC officials are
giving priority registration to incoming freshmen.

The Priority Registration program virtually guarantees that
participants will get the classes they want.

“With this change we are placing an emphasis on first-year
students, who tend to be full-time and need basic general
education courses,” said Dr. Kenneth Yglesias, president of
Golden West College. “We will be able to meet the needs of a
larger number of students, including continuing GWC students. Our
faculty asked for this ‘Priority Registration’ program based on
the trends they saw in their classrooms. We are committed to
innovating and improving the experience of our students.”

The change will allow incoming freshmen who participate in the
S.O.A.R. Program to register before continuing students. College
officials estimate that 600-800 incoming freshmen will benefit
from the Priority Registration program.

In turn, students already attending Golden West College should
benefit as college officials add sections of classes with the
highest demand, something that was nearly impossible to predict
under the old method of registration.

Those nearing graduation — and still in need of a basic course —
have a commitment of assistance from college administrators to
get into the classes they need to complete their certificate,
degree program or university-transfer major. Any negative impact
to continuing students should be minimal since most take basic
classes such as “Freshman Composition” early in their college
careers.

Graduating high school seniors who haven’t already participated
in the S.O.A.R. (Student Orientation, Advisement and
Registration) Program still have time to take advantage of
Priority Registration by attending an assessment session at the
college.

The tests will held on April 29, May 3, 6, 20, and June 3. Times
and details are available in the “GWC News” section of the
college Web site at http://www.gwc.cccd.edu, by sending e-mail to
info@gwc.cccd.edu, or calling the Assessment Center at (714)
895-8388. Appointments must be made in advance of the test.

Applications are currently being accepted for the fall 2000
semester. Students participating in the S.O.A.R. and Priority
Registration programs will select their classes between July 19
and 21. The fall semester begins on August 28.

S.O.A.R. Testing Dates
For Priority Registration

Date      Time           English Speaking
April 29  8-11 a.m.      Non-native
April 29  2-5 p.m.       Native
May 3     4:30-7:30 p.m. Native
May 6     8-11 a.m.      Non-native
May 6     2-5 p.m.       Native
May 20    9 a.m.-12 p.m. Non-native
May 20    2-5 p.m.       Native
June 3    9 a.m.-12 p.m. Non-native
June 3    2-5 p.m.       Native

About Golden West College:

The “Oceans of Opportunity” at Golden West College include
approximately 60 career programs and 50 university-transfer
majors for students starting work on their bachelor’s degrees.

Golden West College is Orange County’s only community college
which features innovative 16-week spring and fall semesters,
which help students prepare for studies at both University of
California and California State University campuses.

GWC also offers short-term courses starting throughout each
semester. The highly successful Weekend Express program allows
students to complete courses in accelerated six-week blocks and
has more than a half-dozen starting dates throughout the calendar
year.

Open enrollment and registration for these programs are under
way.

Classes at Golden West College cost just $11 per unit, the lowest
enrollment fee of any college system in California. In addition,
the college issues more than $10 million in financial aid each
year.

Golden West College is located at 15744 Golden West Street in
Huntington Beach, nestled between Edinger and McFadden avenues
and Golden West and Gothard streets — just off the San Diego
(405) Freeway and minutes from Huntington Beach’s picturesque
shoreline.

Information about Golden West College is available by calling
(714) 892-7711, visiting http://www.gwc.cccd.edu, or sending
e-mail to info@gwc.cccd.edu.

                             —GWC—

_________________________________________________________________
 One of the Coast Community Colleges serving Costa Mesa, Fountain
   Valley, Garden Grove, Huntington Beach, Midway City, Newport
                Beach, Seal Beach and Westminster
Kenneth D. Yglesias, Ed.D, President * Board of Trustees: Paul G.
   Berger; George E. Brown; Walter G. Howald; Jerry Patterson;
Armando Ruiz; Student Trustee * William M. Vega, Ed.D, Chancellor
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