SALINAS VALLEY — A historic signing ceremony at Cal State Monterey Bay (CSUMB) earlier this year marked the launch of the Panther Otter Pathway Program, a partnership between CSUMB and Hartnell College designed to simplify and streamline the journey to earning a bachelor’s degree.
CSUMB President Vanya Quiñones and Hartnell College President Michael Gutierrez, who both assumed their leadership roles in 2022, celebrated the program as a major step toward removing barriers to higher education and enhancing social mobility in the region.
“The new Panther Otter Pathway Program will allow local high school students a clear roadmap to complete their associate degree for transfer and then continue at Cal State Monterey Bay for their bachelor’s,” Quiñones said.
The Panther Otter Pathway Program offers a simplified application process, granting students simultaneous admission to Hartnell College and CSUMB. Participants will complete an Associate Degree for Transfer (ADT) at Hartnell College with guaranteed admission to CSUMB to complete their bachelor’s degree.
The collaboration aims to increase graduation rates and provide students with the tools for meaningful careers that contribute to economic growth in their communities.
“The goal is to remove barriers in access to higher education and create a clear pathway to lead our students to economic and social mobility,” Gutierrez said.
He emphasized the program’s transformative potential, adding, “With this partnership, we’re going to ensure that we’re both going to be No. 1 [in social mobility] a long, long time. The Panther Otter Pathway Program will help remove any barriers to ensure that takes place. This is not the finality of the partnership, this is the beginning.”
The Oct. 31 ceremony took place in CSUMB’s Otter Student Union Ballroom, where the presidents signed ceremonial documents to officially inaugurate the program. They were joined by leadership from both institutions, staff and administrators.
The event concluded with photo opportunities featuring both schools’ mascots, Oscar the Panther from Hartnell and Monte Rey the sea otter from CSUMB.
Through this program, Hartnell and CSUMB solidify their long-standing partnership and commitment to creating accessible, affordable and high-quality educational opportunities for students across the region.
