Inside one classroom, students are practicing real-world medical office skills as part of the college's medical assisting program.
"Hi, so my name is Wilma and I'm your medical assistant for the day," one student tells a classmate during a patient simulation.
Students learn how to interact with patients, take vital signs and document medical information, mirroring what they would experience in a healthcare setting.
Instructor Elizabeth Crooks said students must demonstrate both technical and professional skills before completing the program.
"They have to show that they can do a correct blood pressure, a correct pulse, that they can interact with the patient appropriately and with the correct legal language," Crooks said.
The medical assisting program is offered at Fresno City College's West Fresno Center. While some instruction still takes place in person, many lectures have moved online, allowing class sizes to more than double.
College leaders say the center itself is experiencing steady growth.
"We have a headcount of 1,412 students," said Deborah Lewis, dean of institutional services and pathways. "That's up 15% from last fall, and we've just had consistent growth."
Lewis believes the smaller campus environment appeals to many students, particularly those attending college for the first time.
"When students come here, they realize they're joining this small community," Lewis said. "It's not as overwhelming as our huge large campus. It's like a small town."
The center offers students access to Fresno City College programs while providing a more intimate learning environment and easier access to support services.
For Crooks, the growth reflects students' commitment to building careers through education.
"I would say 99% of the students in this program are here because they really want to be," she said. "They work really hard, and they do a good job."
College officials say improvements to the West Fresno Center are continuing. A new public art installation has been completed and is expected to be formally unveiled in September.
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