Empowering Potential for All
By Dr. Steven Bloomberg, Chancellor
Kern Community College District
It’s been more than six months since I joined the Kern Community College District (Kern CCD) as Chancellor, and as we embark on another academic year, I want to share some thoughts on where we are as a District and where we are headed. I have spent much of that time listening to faculty, students and staff, as well as members of our community, to understand their thoughts about our future. I’ve held focus groups with faculty and staff and spent a great deal of time holding conversations on each of our campuses.
As I have held these conversations, I have been struck by the common theme that has emerged: there is a great deal of pride in our communities, our District, and our colleges. We believe in a common goal to ensure that we succeed not just in educating our students, but also contributing to the lives of people in our communities. There is an impassioned commitment to make our District a better place to work, live, and learn. I share in that commitment. In fact, that was one of the main reasons why I decided to come back to Kern County as Chancellor. I began my career here in Kern County. This is where the doors of opportunity opened for me. I am personally invested in the success of this community.
Of course, we have challenges that need to be faced, as every organization does. But I have been impressed with the willingness of members of our community to share both their concerns and their ideas for how we can move forward together.
In the spirit of moving forward, I am proud to share the start of an effort I’m calling “Empowering Potential,” an initiative I am personally overseeing, designed to focus and unlock the potential of each member of our community through strategic investments, enhanced efficiencies, expanded academic offerings and strengthened community partnerships. By empowering potential throughout our community, we can create an environment where every student, staff and faculty member can achieve greatness and contribute to a brighter future for all.
“Empowering Potential” will have initiatives in four key areas.
The first area is centered on access. We will continue to provide accessible and affordable academic programs for students at all stages of their careers so that they can earn the necessary credits, certifications, and skills to complete their degrees and successfully enter the job market. Kern CCD is an essential part of our community, and it is our responsibility to provide students with a diverse range of high-quality opportunities for them to succeed. From 2022 to 2024, our enrollment numbers have increased significantly, by 11,360 students, or 27%, something that could not have happened without the support of every member of our community. And so, we must meet local and statewide needs for education and workforce development.
When it comes to access, we will continue to ensure that Kern CCD provides programs and services accessible to students without incurring significant debt. In California, our tuition costs are the lowest of any community college system in the U.S. and we have financial aid programs as well. We can all agree that education must be accessible to all.
The second area of focus is maximizing opportunity for our students, faculty, and staff. For students, this means creating new opportunities to amplify impact. Kern CCD will be expanding its nursing programs to address this shortage of healthcare professionals in rural and remote areas while ensuring equity in access to the nursing profession. I’m proud to say that Bakersfield College was one of twelve colleges selected throughout the state of California to be part of this initiative, and we’re aligning with California's healthcare workforce development goals and meeting essential local workforce needs. The expansion includes increasing the number of positions available in existing programs and developing new partnerships with local healthcare providers. We are also advocating to offer a bachelor’s degree in nursing to meet demand and respond to California’s nursing shortage.
We will support our faculty and staff as they seek new and innovative ways to provide the education our students need and hone the necessary skills they need to advance their own careers. Our job training initiatives and apprenticeship programs have already seen remarkable success, and we are continuously working to expand these opportunities. By fostering relationships with local businesses and community organizations, we are not only equipping our students with the skills they need to thrive but also fueling the economic growth of the very communities we serve.
All of this will result in vibrant college campuses that are not only actively engaged in our society, but also in providing graduates who have the backgrounds and skills to remain a part of and contribute to our communities.
Success is another area of focus. At Kern CCD, we will develop programs and take steps to ensure that students, faculty, and staff can be successful in what they do and what they wish to do. As we seek to ensure success, we want to be innovators, as evidenced by the creation of the Economic Mobility Lab, our latest virtual reality initiative that incorporates the latest technology so students can get the best training for their careers. I want to thank Assemblymember Dr. Jasmeet Bains for her efforts in securing this funding during an especially tight budget year.
Finally, and most importantly, it all comes down to hope, our last area of focus. I am committed to working together to achieve this vision for our future. It is my hope that through empowering the potential within us all we can ensure our students, and all members of the community, can make progress on realizing their dreams.
After listening to our community and working with our community members to develop these programs and more, I am incredibly optimistic about our future and the role we play in the communities we serve. I am committed to continuing to listen and look forward to our open dialogue. Through “Empowering Potential,” I look forward to building and implementing programs that help create a bright future for Kern CCD.
This Op-Ed was published in The Bakersfield Californian.