A light rain at Woodland Community College didn’t deter new and prospective students Saturday, with dozens turning out to get information on courses and financial aid.

Although Spring Semester classes at the college on East Gibson Road start on Monday, sign-ups were still being taken for some courses.

Much of the effort was directed toward helping people log in to the school’s various sites so incoming students could get more information as well as register, explained Khadijah, who wanted only her first name used.

Khadijah said this is the second time she has helped people get information about the school and noted there is no one specific type of person interested in getting more education.

“It’s honestly a full mix,” she explained. “There are a lot older people coming in to help with their careers. This past week I’ve had people whose job requirements have changed and they need to update their skills.”

Regarding questions from the students, Khadijah said they’re rather basic, but still need to be answered.

“We direct them toward doing their required agreements, getting them into their computer portals and registering into the class,” she explained. “Sometimes they need to get their student identification numbers and social security numbers entered.”

“Some students wait until the last minute or they have other obligations, which is why we hold it on a Saturday. It’s more convenient.”

Specific numbers for this year’s student enrollment are not yet available, but previous years have seen both a rise and fall in admissions, primarily due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Woodland campus is seeing continued growth with the construction of the Performing Arts Center and Culinary Institute, which saw a grand opening on Friday and was unveiled by its new president, Dr. Lizette Navarette, who started in the position two weeks ago.

Also attending the grand opening was Yuba Community College District Chancellor Dr. Shouan Pan.

The new, multi-million dollar building is expected to be a big draw for those interested in the performing arts, art in general as well as culinary services.

There has also been growing interest in the college’s agriculture program, which is drawing heavily from Woodland and Pioneer high schools. Students attending ag programs at the college usually go directly into jobs or continue their education at UC Davis, which has one of the premier agriculture programs in the country.