- Denise Rockenstein
- Posted On
Yuba College officials discuss proposed realignment process at Wednesday forum
CLEARLAKE, Calif. – A possible realignment of colleges and campuses in the Yuba Community College District was discussed Wednesday at a community forum held at the Clear Lake Campus on Dam Road in Clearlake.
Similar forums are being conducted throughout the district as the board of trustees explores a proposal to realign the Clear Lake Campus with Woodland Community College.
The Clear Lake Campus currently is aligned with Yuba College, its main campus being located in Marysville.
The proposed realignment, which takes into consideration geographical location, is expected to bring balance to enrollment and provide like educational structures throughout the Yuba Community College District, according to district officials.
It is anticipated to provide students with increased curriculum, resource and access opportunities. It is not expected to disrupt students' current courses of education, district representatives said Wednesday.
“I want to make sure the concerns of the faculty and the students are addressed and, if the board does go forward, we make it a seamless transition for the students,” Clear Lake Campus Dean Art Pimentel said.
Woodland Community College President Angela Fairchilds said the proposal is currently in the fact-finding phase and a recommendation is expected to go before the board of trustees in January.
She said if the proposal moves forward, a transitional phase of two or more years is anticipated to reorganize curriculum, staffing, resources and other operations.
Yuba Community College District is a multi-college district including Yuba College and Woodland Community College, the latter of which was a center under Yuba College until it gained its own community college accreditation 2008.
Fairchilds said the natural progression in the transition from a single-college district to a multi-college district is to reorganize the district to best serve the area geographically.
State and national initiatives are to require community colleges to collaborate regionally with other colleges, K-12 districts and industry partners to secure funding for career and technical education programs.
The geographical proximity of the Clear Lake Campus with Woodland Community College potentially increases opportunities for regional partnerships to compete for career and technical education funding and better align those programs for students with community economic development and workforce needs.
Yuba College President Rod Beilby said realignment will balance enrollment figures by adding the Clear Lake Campus enrollment to Woodland Community College instead of Yuba College.
He said this will assist in creating better balance in areas related to resources, funding, programs and other educational opportunities throughout the district.
Fairchilds said realignment would ensure similar structure of all institutes, with each having a main campus, an education center and outreach site.
She said while she anticipates additional curriculum and resource opportunities for students, such opportunities have yet to be specified pending analysis of staff, curriculum and other operations.
Fairchilds said she does not foresee the elimination of any programs as a result of the proposed realignment.
However, she said, all programs are subject to scheduled review and can be eliminated through the typical review process.
Pimentel said he saw the day's forum as a success.
“We are receiving input from a wide spectrum of community members, making sure we are addressing concerns in the interest of the Lake County service area,” he said.
Comments, concerns and/or questions may be directed to Pimentel at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call 707-995-7904.
Email Denise Rockenstein at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .