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Selected as small community college nationwide as best representative of promoting educational and economic advancement for under served youth and adults.
The MetLife Foundation and Jobs for the Future recently honored West Hills as the small community college nationwide that best exemplifies helping under served youth and adults prepare for further education and career advancement. Small class sizes and the latest in science and technology facilities are features of both West Hills College Coalinga with 1,200 students and West Hills College Lemoore with 3,200 students. Individual attention from a caring faculty is a prominent feature at West Hills and English As A Second Language curriculum is abundant. TOFL scores are not required for international students. Associate degrees and/or certificate programs are offered in almost 30 areas from administration of justice to trade, technology and industry. An associate degree can be earned entirely online and many students receive financial aid. The brand-new, state-of-the-art West Hills College Lemoore campus opened in January 2002. It features the largest and most technologically advanced library in Kings County, 18 classrooms, computer labs, three science collaboratories (a unique award winning concept that is being replicated at other colleges) and a women’s soccer program that has annually sent players on to four-year schools. A unique partnership with California State University, Fresno, allows students to earn a bachelor’s degree entirely on the Lemoore site. The original West Hills campus is Coalinga has undergone extensive renovations and offers the same science and computer facilities as its sister campus. It is one of only 12 community colleges in California to offer residence halls and it features sports programs that attract athletes from throughout the country. Men may participate in football, basketball and baseball. Women can compete in volleyball, softball and tennis. A coed rodeo team competes against both two and four year schools from throughout the country and is consistently one of the best teams in the nation. Actor, director, producer Edward James Olmos has been one of the biggest champions for West Hills in recent years and visits the college annually. The school in return has named its theatre arts program in his honor. Recently renovated facilities in Coalinga allow students to pursue a degree or certificate in theatre with options in television broadcast, Chicano theater, design, production, video, performance or touring productions.
West
Hills is fully accredited and offers transfer assistance to
University of California, California State Universities and
other four-year colleges. It truly lives up to its motto of, “Once
You Go Here, You Can Go Anywhere.” Number
of undergraduate students: 5,000 Admissions office: 1-559-934-2300. |
Students
looking for a safe and friendly academic environment might
want to look toward the west side of Central California’s
San Joaquin Valley. Nationally recognized West Hills Community
College District’s mission is to provide a world-class
learning environment to a diverse population in a down home
friendly atmosphere. The favorite saying of faculty and staff
is ¡Mi escuela es su escuela!
An
active MESA program (Math, Engineering and Science Achievement)
at the Coalinga campus encourages Hispanic students to major
in math and science fields with special workshops and tutoring
available. Advanced math and science classes are small—sometimes
featuring fewer than 15 students.