CHULA VISTA: Southwestern College debuted its $5 million Center for Recording Arts and Technology yesterday on its main campus in Chula Vista as classes resumed for the 2007-08 academic year.

The college remodeled two music buildings to produce the center, where students will take classes in recording arts, telemedia and electronics.

About 18,000 students are expected to take classes at Southwestern this fall.

The college is rebuilding its San Ysidro satellite campus, which is expected to open in January.

This year the college is introducing new academic programs in logistics and transportation and culinary arts. It has also launched new programs to train bilingual legal office professionals, virtual office professionals and database administrators.

–C.M.