Getting a bachelor’s at San Jose Community College? One professor pushing for Alcohol and Drug Studies degree program

SAN JOSE, Calif. (KGO) — Professor Mary Crocker Cook says she’s the happiest when she’s in the classroom, teaching at San Jose City College. On Wednesday, she met with us on campus and shared her vision of bringing the first Bachelor of Science degree program here.

“It increases the workforce, it increases the quality of workforce,” Cook said.

For the past 35 years, Cook has led the Alcohol and Drug Studies Program. Students can become counselors, and behavioral health professionals, but Cook wants them to be able to achieve more.

“Okay what keeps my people from going on and getting their bachelor’s – money, money, it’s about 14,000 a year. People who work in my field probably make $40,000 to $50,000 a year – they’re supporting families, okay, they can’t afford that,” Cook said.

MORE: San Jose middle schoolers to take college classes, get credits through new program

Cook said executives from City College and the district will meet on Thursday to discuss the proposal. Officials describe it as a rigorous process and any proposal must be reviewed by the California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office.

Cook said she’s already received support from local state and universities – something that’s not easy.

“San Jose State, School of Social Work – yeah, please do it – UC Santa Cruz gave me a letter saying yes, lets do it, so it has a momentum to it,” Cook said.

To advance the proposal, they must prove there’s a workforce need – something Cook said Santa Clara County is well suited for.

Leandra Canion is one of Cook’s former students. Canion works for Pathway Society, a service provider for alcohol and drug treatments.

“There’s opportunities for middle management, more administrative positions, operations managers, clinical coordinators,” Canion said.

She met us outside the future site of a men’s detox facility.

“To give them a sense of hope, to give them a chance, an opportunity, to make changes, lifesaving changes,” Canion said.

If the proposal advances from the district, it heads to the state, applications are due January 15.