Engaging the cultures and serving the cities is the very essence of the Fresno Pacific Idea and the purpose of the regional campuses. Let me share how all the regional campuses are accomplishing this goal and preparing our graduates to lead and serve in the church and society.

With a combined enrollment of 2,500-plus students and locations in Merced, North Fresno, Visalia and Bakersfield, FPU regional campuses are growing in their quest to serve Central Valley students. The regional campuses offer over 23 undergraduate degree completion, credential and graduate programs. With over 60 classrooms and 49 administrative offices, the regional campuses are becoming a “one-stop” location for students. Financial aid, registrar services, advising and recruitment are all offered under one roof at each regional campus. Students can receive their books directly at their campus from the FPU bookstore and Hiebert Library. Students are also able to engage career services staff at each regional campus.

Each of the regional campuses has its own uniqueness and dynamics, serving diverse student populations. The Visalia Regional Campus (VRC) is housed in its own 35,000-square-foot, two-story building. The North Fresno Regional Campus (NFRC) regional campus is home to over 32,000 square feet, which it shares with other professional tenants.

The Merced Regional Campus (MRC) consists of two separate classroom buildings and an administrative building for a total of over 10,000 feet. Our new Bakersfield Regional Campus (BRC) contains a 6,000-plus-square-foot administrative building with eight offices, a tutoring room and videoconferencing/conference rooms. Currently, BRC has seven classrooms located at Bakersfield Christian High School with all services available to students and faculty.

In our efforts to begin to strengthen the bonds between the main and regional campuses, regional campus staff, faculty and students participate in Staff Caucus, University Break, Thanksgiving Lunch, the Employee Appreciation Luncheon, graduation, athletic and other student-activity events.

In committing to the FPU Idea, we are extending our classrooms to learn and serve in the cities and towns where we have established a presence. Regional campus staff and faculty have instituted Enrollment Express at neighboring community colleges, as well as orientations and convocations in their communities to welcome and encourage students in their academic journeys.

Not only are the regional campuses a venue for student learning, regional chambers of commerce, superintendents of schools, county government and business exchanges rent our classroom space for community educational and grant workshops, increasing FPU revenues.

To meet the increasing demand for new programs, classes and student services, future growth is anticipated. VRC will be adding a 13,000-square-foot building adjacent to its current building, adding eight-nine new classrooms, a new student lounge and four-six new offices. NFRC has added a new office suite on the second floor of its building to house the Veteran’s and Nursing offices and Fresno City College’s (FCC’s) Fire Science academy. MRC operations staff plans to partner with Merced College to explore expanding their capacity by four new classrooms at the Business Resource Center in downtown Merced.

Partnerships are also a large part of the growth for the regional campuses. Not only has NFRC staff been in partnership with FCC to house the Fire Science Academy, the campus also provides classrooms for FCC’s general education courses, leading to a pathway for students to eventually pursue their bachelor’s degrees with Fresno Pacific University. Bakersfield College plans to partner with FPU’s BRC to offer students advanced degree pathways. Merced College has begun talks with FPU for a pathway partnership and VRC is collaborating with College of the Sequoias for a future pathway partnership as well.

All our efforts in building new facilities and launching new partnerships align well with the FPU idea, which impacts the lives of our students and the cities and towns within the Central Valley. We welcome your support in these endeavors. Please feel free to contact us for a visit or tour.