For the past three years, January and early February have left the campus resembling a ghost town rather than a learning institute.

To the delight of many students and local businesses, a winter session will be held for the first time since 2010.

The winter class schedule will be posted online Monday. The classes will run from Jan. 6 through Feb. 13 with priority registration starting Nov. 12. Students will be allowed to take up to five units this winter, which should come as a relief to those who hope to transfer sooner to a four-year university.

The absence of a full winter schedule has been felt by nearly everyone on the Glendale campus and its surrounding areas. Though transferring out in two years was once expected of students, now it is almost unheard of.

“I already gave up on transferring out in two years,” freshman Luis Davila said. “It’s a relief to know that at least I can speed things up by taking winter classes.”

Without winter session, frustrated students have had to wait until spring to get the classes they need. Students with low priority are often forced to become part-time students or take classes elsewhere. Administrators point to a lack of funding for the absence of inter-session classes.

“The state only funds us for classes up to a certain point,” said Ron Nakasone, vice president of administrative services. “If we had offered some these classes

during winter, the school would not be making any money.”

Some classes such as nursing have still been offered after the intersession was curtailed.

Decreased funding has forced many schools to make cutbacks. Nonetheless, last November, California voters passed Proposition 30, partially alleviating financial stress to public schools. The increased funding has allowed GCC to add between 150 and 200 additional classes in January and February.

“Most of us are trying to get out of community college and move on,” sophomore Susie Fuentes said. “More classes for the winter will help a lot of us move on and finish the classes we need to transfer.”

The three-year suspension of winter courses has affected more than just students.

Businesses  that surround campus rely on students to stay afloat. A number of businesses have gone under over the last year.

The convenience store Orange Stop on Cañada Boulevard shut its doors as did Wrap Express on Verdugo Road. The signs, tables and chairs are still there, but their emptiness is a cold reminder that without students around, they could not thrive. Other factors can contribute to a failed business such as a bad location or poor management.

“Business slows down a lot when the semester ends,” Mohammed Yahhia of Kurry & Kabab said. “If there is a winter, more students will come.”

In an isolated part of Glendale, the GCC campus is a lifeline for the area. Miles away from downtown Glendale and other busy areas, the campus provides for the local economy. The only other real source of business for the restaurants located across from campus is Verdugo Park.

“I go to the skate park a lot, but I notice when the school is closed, it’s dead around here,” freshman Mike Forbes said.

Nakasone said about 10 percent of the full curriculum will be available for winter.

Intersession classes are planned to continue to be offered in 2015 and and beyond.

during winter, the school would not be making any money.”
Some classes such as nursing have still been offered after the intersession was curtailed.
Decreased funding has forced many schools to make cutbacks. Nonetheless, last November, California voters passed Proposition 30, partially alleviating financial stress to public schools. The increased funding has allowed GCC to add between 150 and 200 additional classes in January and February.
“Most of us are trying to get out of community college and move on,” sophomore Susie Fuentes said. “More classes for the winter will help a lot of us move on and finish the classes we need to transfer.”
The three-year suspension of winter courses has affected more than just students.
Businesses  that surround campus rely on students to stay afloat. A number of businesses have gone under over the last year.
The convenience store Orange Stop on Cañada Boulevard shut its doors as did Wrap Express on Verdugo Road. The signs, tables and chairs are still there, but their emptiness is a cold reminder that without students around, they could not thrive. Other factors can contribute to a failed business such as a bad location or poor management.
“Business slows down a lot when the semester ends,” Mohammed Yahhia of Kurry & Kabab said. “If there is a winter, more students will come.”
In an isolated part of Glendale, the GCC campus is a lifeline for the area. Miles away from downtown Glendale and other busy areas, the campus provides for the local economy. The only other real source of business for the restaurants located across from campus is Verdugo Park.
“I go to the skate park a lot, but I notice when the school is closed, it’s dead around here,” freshman Mike Forbes said.
Nakasone said about 10 percent of the full curriculum will be available for winter.
Intersession classes are planned to continue to be offered  in 2015 and and beyond.