Hartnell College and Its Community
Hartnell College is one of the 109 community college campuses in the California Community Colleges System. It is one of the oldest institutions of higher education in California. Located on the California Central Coast, it enjoys the advantages of a rural setting in one of the most beautiful parts of the world with easy access to metropolitan life, including many educational institutions.
The College District encompasses the entire Salinas Valley, a fertile agricultural region some 10 miles wide and 100 miles long, from the coastal community of Moss Landing on the northern boundary to Bradley at the southern boundary.
The population of 10,000 students is diverse, with Mexican/Mexican American/Chicano students constituting more than 60 percent of the enrollment, mirroring the larger community population. Thus, Hartnell has earned the federal designation as an Hispanic Serving Institution. A large percentage of students speak Spanish as their primary language.
The college employs approximately 100 full-time and 300 adjunct faculty members, 150 classified employees, and 25 managers.
The college has gained accolades for its success in forming partnerships and internships with NASA and other institutions to prepare students for research careers. The arts flourish with a studio arts program and The Western Stage theater company. The college is currently working closely with key leaders in local industry to develop vocational programs in sustainable agriculture and green construction.
Bond financing continues to provide funding for impressive new facilities on the main campus and on the 140-acre Alisal Campus. The King City Center opened in 2002 and now serves 1,500 of our students.
Hartnell College is key to the future of the community and its population. With over half of the population below the poverty level of income, the college provides an opportunity for making a significant social and economic impact on the community and on the lives of individuals. There is significant opportunity for enrollment growth, since the average age of the District population is 24.5 years.
Strengths, Challenges, and Opportunities
Hartnell College enjoys a highly diverse, supportive, and generous community as demonstrated by its highly successful Foundation and $131- million capital bond effort. The Foundation has strong industry subcommittees in agriculture, construction, arts & sciences, and P.E. & athletics, with real opportunities for expansion and resource development.
In an effort to reverse a five-year enrollment decline and a growing budget deficit, the district and its public and private partners conducted an assessment of the education and training needs of residents, business owners, and government leaders. These data support the need for new credit and non-credit programs for more flexible services. Additionally, these data indicate significant growth opportunities, especially in south Monterey County.
The college has strong leaders in its faculty and classified senates and unions who are committed to meeting the district’s needs for credit and non-credit programs and services in basic skills and ESL, nursing and health sciences, agriculture, construction, and other vocational programs. These leaders have played a pivotal role in aggressively addressing accreditation issues and can play an equally important role in developing partnerships with business and industry, and area schools and universities.
While Hartnell graduates have been highly successful, much needs to be done to increase access and success, especially for students from underserved communities. Outreach and retention need strong leadership and coordination. Technology plays a strong role in the delivery of distance education and in some programs and services, but there is a need for expansion and improved planning and support. Vocational and economic development programs are in need of significant development.
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