It was revealed on Tuesday night that Bakersfield College (BC) Arvin Education Center construction will begin this upcoming summer in July 2022.
A total of 32.5 acres were donated by the city of Arvin to build Arvin’s Education Center. The building will be constructed on Varsity Road adjacent to Arvin High. The process will take two years to build and it should be done by 2024. Community members will start to see the process in the summer.
Yovani Jimenez, Kern Community College District Trustee, says that many generations will have the opportunity to succeed right at home.
“It’s always a really good thing when we see a project one step closer to reality,” says Jimenez. “I’m really happy that we posted this event so we can let the community know where we are at now and where we are going.”
The building will be a 27,300-square-foot building with plenty of parking to avoid students from parking in neighborhoods.
Mark Giacomini, Vice President of Finance and Administrative Services, is waiting for the designs to be approved—he is ready to start digging in July 2022.
The facility will include 5 classrooms, a tutoring center, a writing center, computer labs, a library, a bookstore, offices, and space for student government associations.
There has been a long history of hard work to be able to make this project happen.
Bakersfield College is about 27 miles away from Arvin, and that used to be the only choice Arvin residents had to attend college.
In 2010, BC partnered with Arvin High School to provide some courses at Arvin High in the evening. This has helped some Arvin residents take some classes closer to home.
By 2016, taxpayers voted yes on Measure J which anticipated the construction of a Bakersfield college in Arvin.
Bakersfield College has been working hard to get this land ready for an Education Center. They have been working on clearing abandoned water wells, and two houses. Lighting, sidewalks, new water pipes, and electricity currents also took time to consider for the area where the Education Center will be located.
An early college program will also be offered at the Education Center where high school students are able to take college courses while still in high school to receive an associates degree when they graduate high school.
Adult English learners will also be welcomed to start their college journey and make their college experience come true.
There are currently BC classes being offered at Arvin High School as well as the early college program. Students can sign up now for classes.