CALEXICO — Clutching light pink folders decorated with a delicate flower emblem, the all-woman first freshman class to grace the halls of San Diego State University-Imperial Valley campus listened intently Wednesday evening as future instructors passed out syllabi and informed them what the next couple years would entail.

After 44 years as an establishment of higher education in the Imperial Valley — but only for upper-division transfer students, mainly from Imperial Valley College — SDSU-IV has opened its doors to an elite set of freshman.

Roger Dunn, director of the freshman program and a psychology professor, called the 11 women the "dream team" because unlike normal California State University admissions the freshman class for SDSU-IV campus was required to have a 3.75 or higher grade-point-average.

In addition, all the students were given two-year full-ride scholarships.

He noted the first freshman class is all women with "competent backgrounds, competent GPAs and competent motivation."

Calling the students the "class of '007" Dean Khosrow Fatemi thanked the students for choosing to stay in the Valley and attend SDSU-IV, assuring them they will receive an excellent education and ample guidance along the way.

"I'm tempted to say we waited three years so we could say the class of '007 but it just worked out that way," he said.

The move to include freshman became possible with the beginning of construction on the satellite campus in Brawley, allowing the university to accommodate more students, new programs and additional degrees.

"We felt that higher education in this region, which is grossly underserved, would not improve until this happened," added Fatemi.

The all-woman freshman class will follow a liberal arts class schedule — taught by an all-male group of teachers — that includes psychology, music, geography, history and writing.

With only 11 students in each of their classes, Dunn noted that the students are receiving a unique education unavailable at any other CSU or University of California.

"This program is analogous to what you would find at a small, liberal arts school," he said.

A native of Calexico, assistant professor Carlos Herrera, who will teach freshman history, told the women that when he was a senior at Calexico High School many women he knew received scholarships for universities, but because their parents didn't want them to leave the Valley they turned down the free money.

He had always regarded the situation as "sad" and is elated that SDSU-IV will offer an option for students who want to remain in the Valley for an education but want to begin their university years straight after high school.

Reynaldo Ayala, who retired in 1996 as a geography professor, said he chose to return because, "In all my 48 years in higher education I have always wanted to be part of an experiment."

Courtney Watson, 18, a graduate of Holtville High School, initially planned on attending SDSU in San Diego but when her counselor informed her of the Valley option she applied and was accepted.

"I was planning on going to SDSU and my parents decided that they didn't want me to go away and I was given the opportunity to save money," she said.

Fellow Holtville High graduate Jezelle Avila, 18, reiterated Watson's sentiments and added they are both excited about the many prospects and opportunities that attending the "tiny" university campus will entail.

Said Avila, "We're kind of being spoiled because they're helping us so much and giving us extra attention."