Aircraft mechanics are responsible for ensuring the safe, efficient operation of the aircraft that link many of us together.

Over the last five decades, the program at Reedley College has expanded with state-of-the-art facilities and equipment to prepare students for anything they may encounter in their career. A 22,000-square-foot hangar with adjacent classrooms offers space for both instruction and hands-on projects. The program’s own fleet of aircraft and helicopters are always ready for practice and demonstration. And once the aircraft are ready to fly, there’s a landing and takeoff access strip right on the premises.

The program offers training for Airframe and Power Plant Mechanics, who service all the functioning parts of an aircraft, including wings, brakes, tail assembly, and engines. Students may earn an associate of science degree or a certificate, which allows them to immediately take the Federal Aviation Administration exams required for certification. Conveniently, the federally regulated oral, practical, and written exams may be taken on-site at Reedley College.

After certification by the FAA, some aircraft mechanics may be employed by major airlines, while others may work on private planes or for charter airlines. Others may become inspectors, in charge of verifying work and certifying airworthiness. Each option presents different challenges, responsibilities, and opportunities. Whatever path they choose, graduates of the Reedley College program can be proud as they keep us flying, secure in the knowledge they’ve acquired through the Aviation Mechanics Technology Program.

For more information on the Reedley College Aviation Mechanics Technology Program, visit the program’s website.

The program offers an Associate of Science degree or Certificate of Achievement in Criminal Justice, with an emphasis in either law enforcement or corrections.

Law enforcement officers, correctional officers, and those working in the criminal justice system must begin with a solid educational foundation.

Under the guidance of program advisor Garry Elliott, students are introduced to the ins and outs of criminal justice—from police operations and procedures to criminal investigations and law. Recommended electives include Community Relations, Vice Control, and Multi-Cultural Issues Within Public Safety, shedding light on additional aspects of the justice system. Some of these courses are offered on an as-needed basis for students completing the program.

For those interested in pursuing further education in criminology and criminal justice, many courses are eligible for transfer to four-year colleges and universities. The units may then be applied toward a bachelor’s degree in a criminal justice field.

The Criminal Justice Program is a great fit for students interested in problem-solving and public safety. This passion for helping others can translate into a wide selection of exciting and challenging careers, and this program lays the groundwork. Law enforcement officers and investigators, correctional officers, federal agents, and lawyers can all begin their path in the Criminal Justice Program.

That’s why Fresno City College introduced the 25 Month AA Degree Transfer Program. Now students majoring in Business Administration can take advantage of night and weekend classes with guaranteed enrollment. Students attend an intensive one-course-per-month schedule, including accounting, economics, and business classes. Their education is rounded out with general courses in English, mathematics, arts, and computer technology. At the end of the 25 months, students earn an associate of arts degree.

With the Business Division handling the registration process, the students are on a streamlined path to a degree.

The program is designed to meet all requirements for transferring to California State University, Fresno as a business administration major. Students may also be eligible to transfer directly to Fresno Pacific University with a slight modification to the course schedule.

A new cohort of students forms each fall to begin classes in the 25 Month Program in January. This cohort of peers forms a unique network of support. With the Business Division handling the registration process, the students are on a streamlined path to a degree.

The program is administered in conjunction with the Weekend College program, which offers a separate associate of arts degree with classes taken entirely on weekends.

More information about the 25 Month Program, as well as other special programs offered, is available on the Fresno City College website.

Typical fire service gear.

For four decades, the Forestry and Natural Resources Program at Reedley College has been training future rangers, naturalists, and forest workers. As the only program in California approved by the Society of American Foresters, the courses provide hands-on training and skills that students need to succeed in the industry.

Real-world work experience is as important as hands-on training.

A key to the program’s success is the variety of practical training grounds available. The college’s oak grove, farm, and nearby Kings River offer excellent opportunities for practicing tool and equipment usage, hydrology labs, and plant or animal identification. The jewel in this collection of training locales is the 800-acre school forest located at the Sequoia Lake YMCA at an elevation of 5,500 feet. Just 40 miles from Reedley College, this mixed conifer forest is an ideal site for field trips and opportunities from wildlife photography and trail maintenance to running chainsaws and utilizing hand tools. Most field trips consist of three days of activities including interpretive tours, guest speakers, a work day, and blocks of outdoor laboratory instruction.

School forest located at the Sequoia Lake YMCA

Real-world work experience is as important as hands-on training. The Forestry & Natural Resources Program partners with industry-leading employers to offer students paid internships where they serve in a range of professional roles. Every student is given an opportunity to gain these work experiences during the summer. For 25 years, every student who has sought a summer job in natural resources has been placed. And nearly 80% of graduates are permanently employed in natural resource careers.

With a commitment to innovative and practical instruction, the Forestry and Natural Resources Program at Reedley College continues to flourish. On April 17 and 18, there will be a celebration for the 40th anniversary, including a BBQ and activities at Sequoia Lake. For details contact Kent Kinney at kent.kinney@reedleycollege.edu or 638-3641 ex. 3275.

In July 2009, the nursing education grants were announced by the Foundation for California Community Colleges with funding provided by a collaboration between Kaiser Permanente Fund for Health Education at the East Bay Community Foundation and the California Institute for Nursing & Health Care (CINHC) and the California Labor and Workforce Development Agency.

“By partnering with four-year universities, community colleges can create pathways for more nurses to continue their education…” – Paul Lanning, president and CEO of the Foundation for California Community Colleges

Fresno City College and West Hills College Coalinga received part of $250,000 in funds to partner with nursing programs at six universities: CSU Fresno, CSU Dominguez Hills, CSU Stanislaus, Fresno Pacific University, National University, and University of Phoenix.

“California community colleges educate 70 percent of California’s registered nurses. By partnering with four-year universities, community colleges can create pathways for more nurses to continue their education and receive bachelor’s degrees, increasing the quality of healthcare throughout the state,” said Paul Lanning, president and CEO of the Foundation for California Community Colleges. The increased access to additional education will not only improve overall heath care, but is also expected to develop future nursing teachers.

The nursing program at Fresno City College is the largest at any community college in California and the second largest program in the country. It is designed to educate the student at the basic technical level of nursing practice, obtain an Associate of Science degree, and work in a structured health care setting. For additional information on the nursing program at Fresno City College, visit their website.

There are many options for students who wish to transfer from SCCCD to a four-year institution, and there are resources to ensure the transition is as seamless as possible. However, for students unaware of the options, the transfer process can be challenging. With this in mind, in Fall 2009, the Madera Center began offering the new program to aid students in their journey through higher education.

“META counselors walk the students through every step needed to meet their educational goal.” – Monica Cuevas
Madera Center Dean of Students

The META program (“meta” is also the Spanish word for “goal”) consists of English 125 and Counseling 3A the first semester and English 1A and Counseling 3B the second semester. “The course content of this new learning community will have a Chicano/Latino emphasis,” said Monica Cuevas, dean of students for the Madera Center. “The main goal of the META program is to increase the number of Madera Center students who transfer to a four-year college or university.”

The benefits of the program go beyond the classroom, according to Cuevas. “Students benefit from the program by participating in extracurricular activities and fieldtrips that promote transfer opportunities,” she said. “Students also build a cohort that can serve as a supportive network.”

The cohort provides students with a sense of belonging, Cuevas said. The peer network they build offers support in both their academic and personal lives.  The instructors also provide consistency, Cuevas said: “Having an assigned META English instructor, Counseling 3A and 3B instructor, and counselor gives students the stability they need to build the foundation of their education.”

Often the difficulty for students doesn’t lie in unanswered questions, but rather in not knowing what questions to ask. According to Cuevas, META provides students with these questions and the answers. “The META program details the requirements needed to further their education,” she said. “META counselors walk the students through every step needed to meet their educational goal.”

“The true benefit,” she said, “will be seen in two years when students complete their transfer requirements and transfer.”

FCC Police Academy graduation, July 4, 2009.

The Fresno Police Department has been awarded a $10.2 million federal grant. According to The Fresno Bee, the funds will prevent 15 current officers from being laid off and will allow for the hiring of an additional 26 officers. Chief Jerry Dyer expects these new hires to come from the Fresno City College Police Academy.

The news highlights the close ties between the Fresno Police Department and the Academy. “The Fresno City College Police Academy has an outstanding relationship with all (local law enforcement agencies),” said Richard Lindstrom, FCC Police Academy director. “It serves us well in many areas.”

A recruitment training officer, provided by the Fresno Police Department, oversees all Academy instruction. The officer acts as “mother of the class,” according to Lindstrom, providing discipline and counseling. The officer further provides a “bird’s eye view of every cadet in the academy,” Lindstrom said, by which the Fresno Police Department can evaluate potential candidates.

“The primary thing we instill here is integrity. It is absolutely necessary when dealing with the public.” – Richard Lindstrom
FCC Police Academy Director

The advisory committee for the Police Academy is composed of local chiefs and sheriffs who guide and recommend the direction of instruction. It is another way the Academy and local law enforcement work together to develop the most effective officers.

All instruction is “above and beyond what is required by the state,” Lindstrom said. It includes a strong focus on character. “The primary thing we instill here is integrity,” Lindstrom continued. “It is absolutely necessary when dealing with the public.”

Other emphasized qualities include dependability (a commonly overheard aphorism: “it’s better to be an hour early than a minute late”) and pride in appearance and demeanor. Lindstrom calls it  “maintaining a professional bearing.” Cadets must carry this professional bearing wherever their career leads after graduation.

Even with the Fresno Police Department planning to hire additional officers, Lindstrom recognizes the impact of the poor economy on reduced hiring of law enforcement agencies. But he remains hopeful, and sees the close ties of the local agencies with the Fresno City College Police Academy as a continued asset. “We support them,” he said, “and they support us.”

“The idea is to provide short-term job training to get people employed.”– David Clark

The funding is a result of federal stimulus legislation earlier this year. Counties can use the funds to “help displaced workers, so they can find jobs again,” according to David Clark, dean of instruction at Reedley College. “The idea is to provide short-term job training to get people employed.”

With the grant money, Reedley College will offer additional Nursing Assistant, Health Care Interpreter, and Manufacturing sections. “The Tulare County Workforce Investment Board has projected that these are occupations that are emerging for Tulare County,” Clark said.

A recent California law requires health care facilities to provide certified interpreters for patients, making the Health Care Interpreter program especially relevant. Currently, Reedley College offers the only Health Care Interpreter program in the San Joaquin Valley.

The additional program sections, because they are funded through the Tulare County Workforce Investment Board, are only available to residents of Tulare County who are eligible for public financial assistance. These students will receive instruction and materials at no expense.

Similar grants are possible for Reedley College and other SCCCD colleges and campuses as Fresno and Madera County Workforce Investment Boards allocate their own funding.

A man and woman, in silhouette, carried sketchpads and samurai swords. But don’t worry: it was just the logo of the Iron Designer Live competition, held on May 13 at the Willow International Center. The participating graphic designers, five professionals and three students, didn’t appear quite as imposing as their logo counterparts.

Willow International design student, Matt Jayne, competes in the Iron Designer Live Challenge

“We are very grateful to SCCCD for hosting the event in their wonderful facility.”–Victor Ramayrat
Volunteer Marketing Director
Fresno Arts Council

The Iron Designer Challenge is an ongoing project of the Fresno Design Alliance (FDA), a nonprofit organization established to promote quality graphic design locally. Each competition brings together Fresno-area designers to create a logo for a previously undisclosed local nonprofit group. The time allowed is limited and the pressure is high. These competitions are typically held entirely online. But for May’s Iron Designer Live event, the FDA changed the format. This challenge was live, with an audience. All competitors were in the same room, and, rather than the standard three days to create the logo, they had just one hour.

The Design Lab at Willow International offered an ideal solution for the event. With the support of SCCCD, the pieces came together. The center provided facilities and support, as well as a few participants. “We were thrilled to be able to team with the administration and faculty at Willow International for our first-ever Iron Designer Live event,” said Layne Lev, FDA member and coordinator of the event. “Their state-of-the-art graphic design lab provided the perfect setting. The participation and support from the students was also gratifying.”

Iron Designer Live winning logo designed by Katrina Neufeld of Neu Design

Willow International design students Darryl Dote, Matt Jayne and Tyler Nagayama went “toe-to-toe with five of the most seasoned design professionals in the Central Valley, and they held their ground very well,” Lev said.

Dote explains from a student’s point of view. “It was kind of intimidating at first,” he said. “In the end, though, I think it was a good experience for all, and a nice affirmation that the things we are learning in the classroom are training us for real world experience.”

The beneficiary of the event was the Fresno Arts Council, which—after one hour—was presented with the winning logo designed by Katrina Neufeld of Neu Design. The Fresno Arts Council was “very grateful for the opportunity to work with the Fresno Design Alliance design community,” said Victor Ramayrat, the Council’s volunteer marketing director. “Iron Designer Live was a great event to be a part of. We are very grateful to SCCCD for hosting the event in their wonderful facility.” The logo will be presented to the board at an upcoming Council meeting.

Iron Designer Live showcased the mutual benefits of community colleges collaborating with the greater community. “It was a great success,” Lev said. “We look forward to returning to the Willow International Center for next year’s event.”

Companion post:
Iron Designer Live – Video
Video compilation of the Iron Designer Live competition, held on May 13 at the Willow International Center.