San Marcos (August 20, 2023) – Due to the pending impacts of tropical storm Hilary, the declared State of Emergency by Governor Gavin Newsom, and the expansive reach of the Palomar Community College District, all Palomar College sites will be closed on Monday, August 21. Both onsite and online classes are cancelled, for what was originally scheduled to be the first day of the fall semester.  The district intends to fully re-open on Tuesday, August 22.

“Our district serves 2,500 square miles of northern San Diego County, including some of the most rural areas of our region.  Closing our main campus and education centers was not an easy decision, as our students and employees were looking forward to the first day of the fall semester,” said Dr. Star Rivera-Lacey, Superintendent/President of Palomar College. 

Many Palomar College students use public transportation.  The uncertainty of the impact from the storm on these services was a consideration for district administrators when reaching a decision on the closure.  Also considered in the decision were the district’s desert, mountains, and valley areas, all of which are expected to be highly impacted by the storm. In alignment with the Governor’s declaration, the closure alleviates vehicular traffic flow and allows local, county, and state workers to address storm damage more safely.

While fall classes are filling up, it isn’t too late for students to register for the fall semester, which now begins on Tuesday, August 22.  Students can find open classes at the Palomar College My Class Finder.  Courses are available onsite in San Marcos, Escondido, Fallbrook, and Rancho Bernardo, and in online and hybrid formats.