Written by: Chris McGuinness
AUGUST 7, 2026- As the start of the fall semester approaches, Allan Hancock College is encouraging
students to take advantage of the opportunity to enroll before classes begin Aug. 17.
With hundreds of credit and noncredit courses available, students can explore new
interests, prepare for transfer, earn a certificate or train for an in-demand career.
“Education has the power to change lives, and every semester is an opportunity for
students to take the next step toward their future,” said Hancock Superintendent/President
Kevin G. Walthers, Ph.D. “Our faculty and staff are ready to help students make the
most of that opportunity.”
This fall's schedule also features several distinctive learning opportunities, including
ENGL 102 (Taylor's Version), which connects classic literature with the music of Taylor
Swift; English 140: The Graphic Novel as Literature, where students explore acclaimed
graphic novels and meet virtually with a working comics professional; and immersive
field science courses such as Field Studies of the Eastern Sierra Nevada and Oceanography
Laboratory, giving students the chance to earn college credit while studying some
of California's most remarkable natural landscapes.
To make the registration process easier for students, Hancock once again hosted several “Bulldog
Express” events at its Santa Maria campus and Lompoc Valley Center. At these events,
students were able to get assistance applying for admission, completing their financial
aid applications, completing Promise steps and registering for classes. The final
Bulldog Express event before classes start will take place Aug.10 from 3-6 p.m. in
bldg. A at the college’s Santa Maria campus.
In addition to credit courses, Hancock Community Education will also offer a wide
range of noncredit and fee-based classes. Tuition-free noncredit classes this fall
include basic computer skills, citizenship preparation, and the college's new barbering
and gardening programs. Fee-based classes in fitness, home economics and world languages
will also be offered.