| By Brian Bullock / Staff Writer / bbullock@syvnews.com
In secondary education, the term "hybrid" refers to classes that have both traditional classroom and online components. That definition makes Brandman University a "hybrid" college. The school, formerly known as Chapman University College, has a Santa Maria campus at 1300 E. Cypress St., near Marian Medical Center, where even people who are holding down full-time jobs can get a bachelor's and even a master's degrees.
Brandman has administrative and faculty offices, a computer lab and eight classrooms where students can obtain both bachelor's and master's degrees, along with professional certificates.
Instructors teach traditional classes complete with white boards and text books, but Brandman also has a strong online component.
Online undergraduate degrees range from applied studies to sociology. Master's degrees range from MBAs to secondary education.
The university "rebranded" itself last year, changing its name from Chapman University College to Brandman, when enrollment at the system's 25 branch campuses surpassed the population on its main campus in Irvine, explained Christine Northup, community outreach coordinator.
Chapman University has slightly more than 6,100 students. The University College was renamed Brandman after a $10 million donation by the Brandman Foundation of Los Angeles.
"The majority of our students are working adults and professionals, working to balance work and home life," Northup said. "It made sense to branch off and better serve our student population."
Chapman University was founded in 1861 in Orange.
Brandman University got started in 1958 when Chapman University established an education center at El Toro Marine Air Station to help military personnel continue their education.
Chapman eventually established 25 campuses on military bases throughout California and Washington, with a facility at Vandenberg Air Force Base joining the group in 1963. That facility was relocated to Santa Maria in 2004.
Over its 51-year history, the Chapman University College/Brandman University system has awarded more than 65,000 undergraduate and graduate degrees.
The Santa Maria campus of Brandman has around 400 students during typical spring and fall semester durations. Because the school operates nine-week sessions, Northup said, students don't have to wait until traditional school semester or quarter breaks to enroll.
Brandman is also a hybrid university when it comes to enrollment. It is a transfer school, meaning students must have some college credits to enroll.
"A student can't come to us straight out of high school. We require 12 units to transfer," Northup explained.
Because of that requirement, Brandman works closely with community colleges.
Like much of the student body, most of the faculty at Brandman are working professionals.
The criminal-justice classes, for instance, are taught by Santa Maria Police Chief Dan Macagni, who earned bachelor's and master's degrees from Chapman University.
He credits the university with allowing him to become chief of police.
"I wouldn't be chief here if I hadn't had my master's degree when the opening came up. It was a requirement," Macagni said. "It's important for career development and enhancement.
"What I liked about Chapman was the diversified staff. The staff is a diverse group of people. They aren't just instructors. They are people who are in the fields they're teaching," he explained.
Macagni teaches Police in Society and Victimless Crimes classes.
More information about Brandman University's Santa Maria campus is available at 928-3443 or at www.brandman.edu/santamaria.
May 11, 2010 | 
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