The Valley Chronicle - MSJC Hosts Temecula Valley Campus Dedication Ceremony

By MSJC. Friends and supporters of Mt. San Jacinto College (MSJC) gathered at the Temecula Valley Campus on Thursday, December 8 to celebrate the facility’s dedication and to honor the district's longest-serving trustee.

As the first permanent campus of higher education for Temecula, Murrieta and the surrounding communities, the building first opened its doors to students in the 2021-2022 academic year. The 350,000-square-foot facility will be able to serve up to 15,000 students at its capacity. It is the size of all the buildings on MSJC’s Menifee Valley Campus.

The college purchased two five-story office buildings located at 41888 Motorcar Parkway in Temecula on March 16, 2018. The city of Temecula helped facilitate the purchase in an effort to expand higher education access to its residents.

MSJC used voter-approved Measure AA funds to purchase the $56.5 million facility to save taxpayer dollars and expedite the district’s ability to provide access to quality higher education much sooner than needed for new construction.

During the ceremony, officials also honored outgoing MSJC Trustee Ann Motte, who served the district for nearly 30 years. Those speaking about Mrs. Motte's service and dedication to the district and its students included Menifee Mayor Bill Zimmerman, a past MSJC trustee; current MSJC Board Chair Tom Ashley; and Dr. Roger Schultz, superintendent/president of MSJC. Mrs. Motte did not seek re-election this year after serving the district since 1992. Her vacated seat will be filled by Jhalister Corona, who will take the Oath of Office at the December 15, 2022 meeting.

Mt. San Jacinto College serves nearly 24,000 students annually in a district covering 1,700 square miles from the San Gorgonio Pass to Temecula, with campuses in San Jacinto, Menifee, Banning and Temecula.

MSJC awarded 3,157 degrees and certificates to a record-breaking 2,185 graduates in May 2022.