History

• 1995: The ESL Department at Palomar College is given the green light to hire a full time coordinator and instructor to create and develop a Vocational ESL Program.
  

• Fall semester, 1996: The first VESL class is offered. It is called English Skills, Vocations, ESL 98. Six vocational career areas were offered to students to choose to focus on: Auto Mechanics; Electronics; Appliance Repair; Office Systems; Cosmetology; Welding. The ESL Department writes the VESL Cosmetology materials.
  

• Spring semester, 1997: The program opens a second class offering, held 4 evenings a week.
  

• Fall semester 1997: Appliance Repair is changed to Heating, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration. The Welding program is dropped.
  

• Spring semester, 1999: The VESL Program adds VESL Graphic Communications.
  

• Fall semester, 2000: A third VESL class is opened at the Palomar College Escondido Center. Two VESL programs are offered, Office Systems and Graphic Communications.
  

• Fall semester, 2001: VESL Escondido adds Cosmetology for students. The ESL Department begins writing a VESL Travel Services program.
  

• Spring, 2002 and beyond: More than 50 students have now "graduated" from their VESL area, meaning they have completed all of the modules offered in their program, which can take anywhere from 2 to 4 semesters to complete.