Mt. San Jacinto College has grown by more than 18% since 2023, reaching over 27,000 students.

Superintendent/President Dr. Tawny Dotson shared those numbers Thursday, Nov. 5, during her first State of the College address at the Temecula Valley Campus. Degrees and certificates awarded rose 34% over the same period, according to the college. MSJC projects enrollment will exceed 30,000 during the current academic year.

Dotson said every student at MSJC "brings dreams and aspirations for a better future." She called on the college to keep pace with the region's growth: "As our region grows, access to quality higher education must grow with it."

Dotson, the first woman to lead MSJC, took office July 1 after a national search. She previously served as president of Yuba College and is a retired lieutenant colonel in the U.S. Air Force.

$441.6 million budget

College leaders also discussed the district's $441.6 million budget for the 2026-2027 fiscal year. The Board of Trustees approved the spending plan at its Sept. 10 meeting. The vote was unanimous.

Trustees Tom Ashley, Vicki Carpenter, Brian Sylva, Jhalister Corona and Calvin Smith all voted in favor.

"Our Board is committed to ensuring MSJC remains accessible, financially strong, and responsive to our communities," Board President Tom Ashley said at the address.

The budget supports instruction, student services, financial aid, facilities and campus improvements, according to the college.

University Center plans

MSJC Foundation Board President Patrick Ellis highlighted progress toward establishing a University Center at the Temecula Valley Campus. The center would expand access to bachelor's degrees closer to home through partnerships with public and private universities, according to the college.

The effort involves the Southwest Riverside County Higher Education Coalition, which includes more than 30 regional stakeholders. No formal approval or timeline for the center has been announced.

During a May 14 campus visit by California Chief Service Officer Josh Fryday, college officials showed one of the Temecula Valley Campus towers envisioned for conversion into the proposed center.

New programs, growing demand

The address also covered priorities from MSJC's 2024-2030 Educational Master Plan, including a new engineering program, expanded transfer pathways and workforce partnerships. The college highlighted its continued participation in the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM) Bridges to Stem Cell Research Internship Program, which places students in San Diego laboratories.

MSJC's fall enrollment had already shown momentum before the address. At the Sept. 10 board meeting, Vice President of Institutional Effectiveness Brandon Moore reported fall enrollment increased by about 450 students over the prior year, with nearly 17,800 students in credit courses. The college added 20 late-start sections to meet demand.