3 UC extension classes canceled in Fresno

Published online on Sunday, Jun. 21, 2009

University of California officials are having a tough time filling some seats in extension classes offered in Fresno this summer.

The UC Berkeley extension courses and workshops, offered through a partnership with UC Merced, are a new addition for the summer. But so far, officials have canceled three of eight classes because of low interest.

Brandy Ramos Nikaido, director of UC Merced's Fresno Center, described the summer slate of classes as a test run for the fall. Officials plan to survey more organizations and employers to confirm training needs for the area and ensure that the next schedule of classes responds to those needs.

"We're in an economic downturn," Nikaido said. "It could be that we're not offering what people want to take, or it could be that people can't afford to take what we're offering."

Extension classes are designed to serve continuing and professional education needs, teach new skills or provide training for new careers. The fees for summer classes range from a few hundred dollars to more than $1,000. The summer schedule in Fresno includes professional courses in digital publishing, computer systems and programming and solar energy.

Some classes are presented as one-day workshops; others meet once a week for several weeks.

Al Smith, president and chief executive officer for the Greater Fresno Area Chamber of Commerce, said there is a need for training. But he wondered whether prospective students are more interested in less-expensive and less time-consuming online course work. "A lot of people are having difficulty getting people to come into a classroom in today's environment," he said.

Nikaido said officials plan to consider the results of the survey as they create the fall schedule of classes. "We believe there's a need," she said. "We want to be able to meet that need."