Addendum with evidence (8.2 MB) - Accreditation - Bakersfield ...

A Message from Bakersfield College President Dr. Robert Jensen
The community college, such as Bakersfield College, is a direct reflection of the community
it serves. Designed to serve residents of the local community who are seeking an education in fields
that lead directly to employment or transfer to a four-year college or university, Bakersfield College’s
main goal is to provide higher education that directly addresses the needs of the community. This
relationship extends to the local employers and businesses, of which representatives provide
guidance and information to advisory groups guiding the current and future educational offerings
provided by the college.
The document you are reading coordinates all the processes by which Bakersfield College
plans for and evaluates educational offerings provided to students. The Bakersfield College 2011-
2014 Educational Master Plan guides the academic process of Bakersfield College as the college
moves forward into the next 100 years of providing quality higher education to the students of the
greater Bakersfield area. The 2011-2014 Educational Master Plan is part of an integrated planning
process which brings together future goals for higher education and provides the basis for planning
future efforts to move toward those goals.
The Bakersfield College 2011-2014 Educational Master Plan was developed through a
college-wide collaborative process which engaged campus constituents and community members in
discussions about the college’s future and planning in relation to student needs and expectations.
This plan is a testimony to the resiliency and optimism of faculty, classified staff, and administration
of Bakersfield College, and of the Kern Community College District Board of Trustees. This plan
reaffirms and renews the social contract of the college with its various constituencies and
stakeholders. Bakersfield College continues to improve as a community-based institution of higher
education dedicated to both expanding individual opportunity and to addressing the serious
educational needs and social and economic challenges of its service area in the Southern San
Joaquin Valley, the state of California, and the nation.
This is a difficult time for everyone in public higher education in California. However, with
the combined skills and experience of the Bakersfield College team, along with a dedication and
commitment to serve students’ interests in the best possible way, this plan will set the stage for
another 100 years of higher education at Bakersfield College.
Sincerely,
Dr. Robert Jensen
President
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