Seaside, CA, Oct. 31, 2024 - This morning, CSUMB President Vanya Quiñones and Hartnell College President Michael Gutierrez conducted a signing ceremony at CSUMB to launch the new joint Panther Otter Pathway program.
The program allows students to complete one simplified application to enroll in Hartnell,
enroll in the POP Program, and apply to CSUMB with guaranteed admission. Through this
partnership, both institutions set a precedent in supporting social mobility to pave
the way for students to access quality education without added barriers.
Before the signing, Quiñones told the audience of administrators and staff from both schools that she and Gutierrez became presidents of their respective schools at about the same time in 2022, and quickly found alignment and continued the long-standing partnership between the two institutions.
“Today, we introduce our new Panther Otter Pathway Program that will allow local high school students a clear roadmap to complete their associate degree for transfer and then continue at Cal State Monterey Bay for their bachelor’s,” Quiñones said.
She also cited CSUMB’s No. 1 position for social mobility among Western regional universities in the most recent U.S. News Best Colleges Rankings.
Gutierrez spoke next, saying, “With this partnership, we’re going to ensure that we’re both going to be No. 1 [in social mobility] a long, long time. The Panther Otter Pathway Program will help remove any barriers to ensure that takes place. This is not the finality of the partnership, this is the beginning.”
Both presidents signed ceremonial documents for the joint program and afterward posed for pictures with both mascots, Hartnell’s Oscar the Panther and CSUMB’s Monte Rey sea otter.
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For interviews or more information about Hartnell College, contact: Richard Morales, Director of Communications & Marketing, at 831-755-6858 (direct), 831-206-9422 (cell), rmorales@hartnell.edu .
For interviews or more information about CSUMB, contact: Walter Ryce, wryce@csumb.edu, 831-582-3653, or Mark Muckenfuss, mmuckenfuss@csumb.edu, 831-582-3991.
About Hartnell College
Located in the heart of Salinas Valley, Hartnell Community College District is a leading
institution serving over 12,000 students annually across our main campus in Salinas,
the Alisal Campus, and education centers in King City, Castroville, and Soledad. HCCD
is a Seal of Excelencia Certified institution and a recognized Hispanic-serving institution
since 2000. We offer associate and bachelor's degrees and certificate programs to
prepare students for successful transfer to four-year universities or immediate entry
into the workforce. Learn more about our programs and initiatives at hartnell.edu.
About Cal State Monterey Bay
In 1994, a group of educators, elected officials, and community leaders established
Cal State Monterey Bay in the inspiring coastal landscape of Monterey Bay on the former
Fort Ord Army base. We are recognized for innovative programs in our 28 undergraduate
and eight graduate degrees that prepare our students for success and help power the
regional economy. Seventy-two percent of our students receive financial aid, and 53
percent are among the first of their families to attend college. Learn more at csumb.edu.