Q: What is the Kern County Community College District?
A: Kern Community College District (KCCD) serves 40,000 students and military veterans each year at Bakersfield College, Cerro Coso Community College, and Porterville College. Bakersfield College, Cerro Coso Community College and Porterville College have been providing high quality, affordable higher education and job training for local students and families in parts of Kern, Tulare, Inyo, Mono, and San Bernardino counties since 1913.
A: With the cost of attending California public universities six times that of community colleges, more and more local students, military veterans, and their families are relying on Bakersfield, Cerro Coso, and Porterville Colleges for affordable education and job training locally. Funds are needed to repair and upgrade facilities to ensure local students and military veterans can continue to earn college credits, degrees, certifications, and job skills at a reasonable price.
Q: What are our local community colleges' priorities and needs?
A: Educational needs and priorities include:
- Better preparing returning veterans, students, workers for good-paying jobs
- Creating job and career pathways in growing fields like nursing, welding and construction
- Repairing/replacing gas, electrical and sewer lines, and leaky roofs
- Better preparing students for transfer to four-year colleges and universities
- Improving water conservation
- Ensuring accessibility for people with disabilities
- Providing a science, technology and engineering center for instruction in high-tech fields
Q: Do our community colleges serve many returning veterans?
A: Yes, Kern Community Colleges serves thousands of military veterans each year, many of whom face special challenges including post-traumatic stress disorder and permanent disability. Additional funds are needed to upgrade and expand veteran services and job training so our returning service members receive the support they need to complete their education and re-enter the civilian workforce.
Q: What are our community’s job training needs?
A: Not everyone chooses to attend a four-year university. Students who do not go to a four-year college need access to vocational education so they can obtain the job training, technical knowledge, and specialized skills necessary to compete for good-paying jobs in a competitive global economy.
Q: What is the plan for addressing these needs?
A: To address these needs, the Kern Community College District is considering placing a local funding measure on the November 2016 ballot. A recently commissioned independent survey shows as much as 68% of respondents would support a local funding measure in November 2016, well above the 55% needed for passage.
Q: How can I get more information?
A: We want to hear from you—please let us know what your priorities are for our local community colleges by completing the enclosed community feedback survey TODAY. The survey can also be filled out at www.kccd.edu/communityfeedback. For more information, visit www.kccd.edu. If you have any specific questions feel free to contact Michele Bresso by phone at 661-336-5041 or by email at mbresso@kccd.edu.
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