Cuesta College will officially transition to a tobacco-free campus at the beginning of next year.
Photo courtesy of Gage Skidmore

By Holly Walsh
Life & Culture Editor

University of California President, Janet Napolitano, will visit Cuesta College campus to convey a message that a UC education is affordable and accessible for transfer students.

On Monday, April 30, Napolitano’s day long visit will include a campus forum and tour, lunch with faculty, a discussion with college administrators, and a regional education dialogue with local K-12 leaders as well as representatives from Cuesta College, Allan Hancock College, and Cal Poly.

“I am excited for the opportunity to welcome President Napolitano to Cuesta College and engage in important discussions revolving around opportunity and access,” said Cuesta College President Gilbert Stork.

Napolitano will speak at Cuesta on Monday evening discussing a new agreement between the UC and California Community Colleges to extend a system wide guarantee of admission to all qualifying CCC students.

“Both the [CCC] system and the UC system are in the business of providing excellent higher education,” Stork said. “My goal is to help lay the groundwork for more Cuesta College students to gain access to the UC system, and then have the support necessary to sustain their education success during that portion of their higher education journey.”

Napolitano’s talk is sponsored by the San Luis Obispo Chamber of Commerce and is open to the public from 5:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. on the Cuesta SLO campus in building 5400, room 5401.

In her discussion she will address today’s charged political climate, the UC’s new center on free speech and civic engagement, increasing opportunities for public education in a diverse and changing state, and her work defending DACA and promoting cross-border ties with Mexico, according to the SLO chamber of commerce website.

The event will cost $15 and pre-registration is required on chamber of commerce website.