August 19, 2008

As college students scramble to register for classes before the start of the fall semester next week, many are finding that they are able to get the classes they need, when they need them, at Chandler-Gilbert Community College’s Williams campus.

The campus offers a comprehensive schedule of classes, allowing students to complete their associate degrees at CGCC without ever leaving the Williams campus, said CGCC Williams campus provost, John Schroeder.

Schroeder said that a majority of students taking classes at the Williams campus reside in the Southeast Valley, especially in Gilbert, Queen Creek, and Mesa.

“Students have been telling us that they want to be able to take a full assortment of classes toward an associate degree here on campus," Schroeder said. “With the continued enrollment growth of the college, we’re now in a position to be able to meet that demand.”

Many students who attend ASU Polytechnic, also located on the Williams campus, find themselves enrolling in classes at CGCC as well.

“I enrolled in a science class at CGCC’s Williams campus because I wasn’t able to get a full schedule of classes through ASU Poly,” Ashley Butka of Queen Creek said. “I’ve taken several classes at CGCC in the past, and always found it to be not only convenient, but affordable.”

Upon completion of their first two years at CGCC, students can apply for transfer to ASU Polytechnic.

“The combination of CGCC and ASU Polytechnic at the Williams campus is a win-win situation for students in the Southeast Valley,” said Schroeder.

As the college’s Williams campus student population continues to grow, so does the college’s physical presence.

Currently under construction, Engel Hall, CGCC’s first new building at Williams, will include four specialized labs for Nursing and Life Sciences, six general classrooms, and two lecture classrooms, as well as seventeen faculty offices and support spaces. The $11 million project, which broke ground last December, should be completed in November, with classes beginning in January 2009.

Future projects planned for the Williams campus include the renovation of two existing buildings and the construction of Bridget Hall, which will house a library, bookstore, food area, and space for student services such as tutoring.

In addition to offering general studies courses, the Williams campus is home to a number of specialized programs, including aviation, nursing, fire science, electric utility technology, and automated manufacturing systems.

CGCC’s Williams campus is located southeast of Power Road and Loop 202. For more information, access www.cgc.edu/williams or call (480) 988-8000.