A task force has been formed to explore ways to develop a four-year public university in southern part of San Diego County, California, a region that doesn’t have a major, full-service university despite being home to about half a million people.
The San Diego Union-Tribune reports that the South County Higher Education Task Force will be composed of representatives of the University of California, California State University and California Community Colleges, as well as the city of Chula Vista and the Sweetwater Union High School District.
The task force will focus on figuring out ways to finance and govern a new university.
The city of Chula Vista has set aside 383 acres of public land as a potential site for one or more universities but hasn’t been able to strike a deal with any school. Chula Vista is the second-largest city in San Diego County, with a population exceeding 250,000, and is the largest city in the state without a public university offering baccalaureate degree programs, according to Califorinia Assembyman David Alvarez.
Over the past year, UC San Diego, San Diego State University and Cal State San Marcos have decided to introduce a small number of bachelor’s degree programs at a newly opened center at Southwestern College, a two-year community college in Chula Vista.
Supporters are hoping the center will lead the schools to sink much deeper roots in South County.
