Kern CCD Announces 5-Year Future Forward Strategic Plan

At its board meeting on April 10, 2025, the Kern Community College District (KCCD) introduced a new five-year strategic plan designed to elevate student success, foster innovative solutions, and create unparalleled opportunities for students, faculty, staff, and community.

The plan, titled “Future Forward – Elevating Student Achievement Together” was presented to the Board of Trustees by Dr. Steven Bloomberg, KCCD Chancellor. The plan represents the collective vision of students, faculty, staff, and community partners.  The plan has been in development since March 2024 through the Chancellor’s Strategic Planning Committee.

"This plan centers on empowering students to thrive academically, professionally, and personally by prioritizing initiatives that enhance access, increase student retention, and foster a sense of belonging within our colleges,” said Dr. Steven Bloomberg, KCCD Chancellor.

“The plan also focuses on leveraging cutting-edge technology, strengthening academic support systems, and cultivating inclusive and academically rigorous learning environments to ensure all students receive the tools they need to achieve their academic and career goals,” Chancellor Bloomberg said.

Unlike traditional strategic planning, which builds on past data for incremental improvements, this plan utilizes strategic foresight, an approach that enables institutions to prepare for uncertainties by identifying emerging trends, signals of change, and potential future possibilities. Strategic foresight is a future-oriented process that will enable KCCD to proactively develop strategies that enhance adaptability, innovation, and resilience creating a Future Ready Kern CCD.

The Kern Community College District spans over 24,000 square miles and is one of the largest community college districts in the United States in terms of area serving nearly 60,000 students across five counties, and includes Bakersfield College, Cerro Coso Community College, and Porterville College.