A One Stop Shop for Career Success: WHCL and WHCC Offer Students a Clear Pathway and Support

West Hills College Coalinga and West Hills College Lemoore Both Offer Services to Support Career Success

About the Communities We Serve

Economics

City 

Unemployment Rate 

% Population Below Poverty Level 

Median household income 

Population 

Armona 

13.4% 

20.0% 

44,038 

3,655 

Avenal 

10.2% 

32.8% 

35,103 

8,951* 

Caruthers 

8.5% 

24.6% 

44,649 

2,972 

Corcoran 

 8.7%

 36.2%

 35,531

 12,952*

Hanford 

6.6% 

19.7% 

51,231 

54,912 

Kettleman City 

5.2% 

32.2% 

51,316 

1,586 

Laton 

9.7% 

42.7% 

27,721 

1,877 

Lemoore 

6.5% 

16.5% 

50,871 

25,169 

Naval Air Station Lemoore

9.8% 

10.9% 

42,750 

6,544 

Riverdale 

8.9% 

25.7% 

49,100 

3,964 

Stratford 

12.7% 

49.0% 

24,167 

1,041 

Avenal 

10.2% 

32.8% 

35,103 

8,951* 

Cantua Creek 

10.5% 

21.9% 

32,368 

434 

Coalinga 

4.5% 

23.7% 

51,265 

12,821* 

Dos Palos 

10.3% 

28.9% 

36,509 

5,103 

South Dos Palos 

15.6% 

18.0% 

41,992 

2,568 

Firebaugh 

7.9% 

36.8% 

36,181 

8,176 

Huron 

6.4% 

39.0% 

25,321 

6,821 

Kerman 

6.4% 

24.9% 

42,046 

14,424 

Kettleman City 

5.2% 

32.2% 

51,316 

1,586 

Los Banos 

 7.3%

 22.9%

 45,751

 37,012

Mendota 

15.6% 

49.5% 

26,094 

11,394 

San Joaquin 

4.5% 

46.3% 

24,234 

4,011 

Tranquillity 

2.5% 

32.2% 

30,441 

724 

* Inmate population removed for Avenal, Coalinga, and Corcoran

Source: U.S. Census 2011-2015 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates

CA Comparison

Unemployment Rate 

% Population Below Poverty Level 

Median household income 

Population 

4.9%

15.3% 

64,500 

39.1 Million 

 

Source: U.S. Census 2015 ACS 1-year Estimate

Strong Workforce Stars

West Hills College Lemoore

  • Strong Workforce Gold Star Award
    • In Nursing Program
      • 59% increase in earnings
      • 98% of students attained the regional living wage and
      • 100% of students are employed in a job similar to their field of study
    • Strong Workforce Silver Star Award
      • In Business Management
        • 70% increase in earnings
        • 70% of students attained the regional living wage
      • Strong Workforce Bronze Awards
        • In Accounting
          • 70% increase in earnings
        • In Child Development-Early Care and Education
          • 64% increase in earnings
        • In Administration of Justice
          • 60% increase in earnings
        • In Restaurant and Food Services and Management
          • 88% increase in earnings

West Hills College Coalinga

  • Strong Workforce Gold Star Award
    • In Psychiatric Technician program
    • At least 70% of students attained regional living wage
    • Students experienced an increase in income of 50% or more, and/or
    • At least 90% of students secured employment in their field of study
  • Strong Workforce Star recognizing Employment in field of study
    • Small Business sector for its Accounting, Business, and Child Development programs
    • 100% of students who participate in the Child Development program secure jobs in their field of study
  • Strong Workforce Star recognizing Increase in earnings Agriculture, Water & Environmental Technologies sector for its interdisciplinary Agriculture Technology and Sciences program
    • Students who participate in this program boost their earnings by 65%
A One Stop Shop for Career Success: WHCL and WHCC Offer Students a Clear Pathway and Support

West Hills College Lemoore and West Hills College Coalinga have both been recognized by the California Community College Chancellor’s Office this year for their dedication to one of the fastest growing priorities within community colleges: job placement and creating pathways from college and the community to the workforce.

The colleges were highlighted as two of the CCCCO’s Strong Workforce Stars, an honor which recognizes outstanding workforce outcomes in academic programs. WHCL earned recognition for its Accounting, Child Development-Early Care and Education, Administration of Justice, Restaurant and Food Services and Management, Business Management and Nursing programs.

West Hills College Coalinga was recognized for Accounting, Business, Child Development, Agriculture Technology and Science and its Psychiatric Technician programs.

“West Hills has focused on strong Career Education programs aligned to what industry and business partners need,” said Kris Costa, Dean of Career Technical Education at WHCL. “This star designation is evidence of the hard work over the last several years to build these opportunities for students, with skills that matter to employers and get students to the finish line.” 

Graduates from all of these programs saw a dramatic increase in their earnings and overall were employed in a related field and earned a living wage after graduation. Part of that success, and the fact that WHCL and WHCC both were named Strong Workforce Stars, can be attributed to strong career success resources at both schools. WHCL and WHCC are both home to centers that help to carve a pathway for students from school to successful careers by offering skill development, job placement services and more.

At WHCL, this work is done through the Workforce Internship and Networking Center or WIN Center.

The WIN Center, located on the WHCL campus, offers a variety of services to students including career and soft skills workshop that cover everything from highlighting specific careers to helping students perfect their resume. It hosts a Biz Chat series, which brings in speakers to talk about careers ranging from California Highway Patrol to athletic training and accounting and also offer monthly workshops on LinkedIn, resume and cover letter building and other topics.

They partner with area employers to place students in jobs, offering students coaching for interviews and support throughout the hiring process, and host networking events.

At West Hills College Coalinga, Workforce Connection is also working hard to guide not just students but community members toward career success.

“As long as they can work, we can help,” said Cecilio Mora, WHCC Coordinator of Special Grants. “Our goal is to empower community residents to enter the workforce and help them to overcome barriers that might otherwise prevent them from obtaining employment. We’re a crucial agency because we can connect people to resources that are available to help them reach full time employment.”

Workforce Connection, a grant funded program located on the WHCC campus and funded by the Workforce Innovation Opportunity Act, aims to combat barriers including limited access to internet and transportation and a lack of employment and educational opportunities in the rural Central Valley.

The center serves as a one stop shop and community hub: it offers a research/job search room open to the community, free printing and resume services, and workshops. It serves residents of all ages, from youth as young as 14 to adults. Services are offered in Coalinga, Mendota, Firebaugh and Kerman, and the program has also reached out into other communities like San Joaquin and Huron.

One of Workforce’s main purposes is job placement in jobs with high and livable wages. The center serves as a resource to connect job seekers with employers and with West Hills College Coalinga. If a job seeker needs further training or education, they will connect them either with WHCC to further their education or with an employer or agency to get training.

One example of this kind of cooperative partnership is with WHCC’s Psychiatric Technician Program. Mora estimates that Workforce has helped to place over 300 individuals in Psychiatric Technician positions over the past 15 years, due to the high demand for psych techs and the job’s high wage. Workforce guides individuals interested in becoming Psych Techs through applying for the program at WHCC and into the job application process at Department of State Hospitals-Coalinga and other employers. Beyond helping them through the academic program, Workforce also provides interview coaching and has even helped with uniform costs.

One of Workforce’s other major offerings is its annual Career and Job Fair. This year, the fair drew over 40 employers and organizations to the WHCC campus.

Both the WIN Center and Workforce continue to grow and offer more services to residents and students each year.

Get a recap of this year's Workforce Connection Job Fair: 

WHCC 2018 Job Fair

 

More about the WIN Center: