Phoenix returns to Mesa location

Marisa O’Neil

The largest private university in the country is opening a new

learning center in Costa Mesa.

Nationwide, more than 180,000 students take part in the University

of Phoenix’s undergraduate, graduate and certificate programs,

university spokesperson Sara Hyde said. Starting this weekend,

students who attended classes in its Fountain Valley location will go

to the new learning center in a 67,000-square-foot space at 3150

Bristol St.

“It’s a great location,” said Jennifer Cisna, vice president and

Southern California director for the university. “There’s a lot of

working adults in that area who need to go back to school.”

University of Phoenix started in 1976 and, in the mid-1980s,

opened a learning center in Costa Mesa. It moved to Fountain Valley

in 1989, Cisna said. The university, which has 139 campuses and learning centers in 29 states, caters to working professionals

seeking bachelor’s and master’s degrees as well as technical

training. About 160 classes a week will take place at the learning

center, one of 11 in Southern California.

“Our typical students are working adults who have families and are

out in the work force,” Cisna said. “Our programs are tailored to the

working adult and allow them to work while taking classes, which is

difficult to do in a traditional school.”

Classes meet once a week in the evening or on weekends, or via the

Internet. The average student age is 35, according to the school’s

Web site.

“We have more of an interactive type of learning,” said Dr. Marc

Bock, who teaches psychology, nutrition and health classes. “If you

sit in a classroom with 100 other students and someone lectures at

you, that’s one thing. If there’s 15 people in your class, it’s a

whole different experience. It makes it more practical for them and

gives them things they can use right away.”

The Costa Mesa learning center will offer degree programs in

teacher education, human services, criminal justice, nursing and

healthcare, and business and technology.

Though no new staff will be hired immediately, Cisna said, the

larger facility will allow them to grow and hire more teachers and

counselors in the future.

The new building will include 37 new classrooms, 17 study rooms, a

student computer lab and will be equipped with wireless Internet

technology.