Del Mar College Discontinues Low-Enrollment Programs
Del Mar College is streamlining its academic offerings, discontinuing three programs due to consistently low student enrollment and, in one case, restrictive industry requirements. The changes include the deactivation of an occupational skills award in aviation maintenance, an associate degree in chemical engineering, and an advanced technical certificate in long-term care nursing home management.
The deactivated aviation maintenance airframe applied technology occupational skills award had onyl one major in the 2023-24 academic year and hadn’t graduated a student in five years. According to college officials,the program’s requirements were too stringent to allow for entry into the aviation field,due to regulations set by the Federal Aviation Administration. “This award was deactivated as it did not allow entry to the aviation field becuase of the strict requirements of the (Federal Aviation Administration),” stated a college representative, Merrell.
The associate degree in chemical engineering, established in 2017, has also been cut, with only five graduates over the past five years. While all graduates successfully transferred to bachelor’s degree programs, college staff determined there wasn’t sufficient ongoing student interest to justify continuing the program. However, students interested in chemical engineering can still pursue related coursework through the college’s chemistry programs and transfer credits to a four-year institution, explained Jack southard, dean of STEM, kinesiology and education.
The advanced technical certificate in long-term care nursing home administration, geared towards students already holding a bachelor’s degree, also saw limited participation, graduating only six students in the last five years. College officials noted that individuals seeking this type of certificate typically pursue it through the institution where they completed their bachelor’s degree, as stated by Halcomb.
These program deactivations do not require approval from the Board of Regents,though the board is informed of the changes. Approval is granted by the Del Mar College curriculum committee.
College President Mark Escamilla emphasized that this process is a standard practice for colleges and universities. “This process is the natural process of maintaining and managing the curriculum,” Escamilla said. “This is what colleges and universities are supposed to do.”
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Published: September 10, 2025 08:40:21 UTC.
