roll s ▁about ▁ 1 2 , 5 0 0 ▁students , ▁of ▁which ▁around ▁one ▁third ▁attend ▁college ▁full - time . ▁▁ ▁The ▁college ▁is ▁feder ally ▁recognized ▁as ▁a ▁His pan ic - ser ving ▁institution ▁( H SI ), ▁receiving ▁Title ▁V ▁gr ants . ▁ ▁CO D ▁is ▁the ▁home ▁of ▁the ▁Energy ▁Technology ▁Training ▁Center . ▁CO D ▁offers ▁A . A . ▁degrees ▁and ▁certificate ▁programs ▁in ▁cul inary ▁management , ▁n urs ing , ▁tur f ▁management , ▁public ▁safety , ▁agricult ure , ▁as ▁transport ation ▁technology , ▁and ▁digital ▁design . ▁ ▁History ▁ ▁College ▁of ▁the ▁Des ert ▁was ▁established ▁in ▁ 1 9 5 8 ▁after ▁a ▁de cade ▁of ▁planning ▁for ▁a ▁junior ▁college ▁district ▁in ▁the ▁Co ach ella ▁Valley . ▁V ot ers ▁approved ▁the ▁formation ▁of ▁the ▁district ▁and ▁fund ed ▁the ▁building ▁of ▁the ▁CO D ▁campus ▁with ▁a ▁bond ▁issue . ▁On ▁September ▁ 2 1 , ▁ 1 9 6 2 , ▁the ▁new ▁college ▁opened ▁on ▁its ▁ ▁site ▁in ▁Pal m ▁Des ert , ▁and ▁in ▁ 1 9 6 6 ▁it ▁gained ▁acc red itation . ▁ ▁The ▁Je ane ▁and ▁Justin ▁Hil b ▁student ▁center ▁and ▁the ▁Carol ▁L . ▁Me ier ▁L ect ure ▁Hall ▁opened ▁in ▁ 1 9 9 8 , ▁and ▁Bob ▁and ▁his ▁wife ▁" M ike " ▁Pol lock ▁fund ed ▁the ▁creation ▁of ▁the ▁CO D ▁campus ' s ▁Theatre ▁One ▁in ▁