PREVIOUSLY

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College of the Redwoods just dropped a bombshell of an announcement: Starting with the upcoming fall semester, Mendocino College will take over education at CR’s troubled Fort Bragg campus. 

As reported by our Ryan Burns last year, some Mendocino Coast residents have long agitated for their community college to be handed over to the nearer and more logical Ukiah-based Mendocino College, which already runs classes in several locations in the Mendocino interior.

Joint press release from College of the Redwoods and Mendocino College below:

College of the Redwoods and the Mendocino Lake Community College District have finalized an agreement to have the Mendocino Lake Community College District provide educational and student support services at the Mendocino Coast campus through June 30, 2017. College of the Redwoods and the Mendocino Lake Community College District have been working on this project for two years. The coast campus has been under the oversight of Mendocino College for the last two semesters.

“I believe this MOU is in the best interest of the students in Mendocino County” said College of the Redwoods Interim President Keith Snow-Flamer. “Mendocino College, by virtue of its proximity to the Ft. Bragg campus, can better serve students. I want to thank Arturo Reyes and his administrative team for working with us to finalize this MOU.”

The MOU also states that Mendocino College shall provide for instructional and student services in the Service Area for fiscal years 2015-16 and 2016-17. “Mendocino Coast students will be well served by our caring, competent and dedicated faculty and staff. We look forward to increasing our presence on the Coast and providing excellent instruction and exceptional educational opportunities to the entire region”, said Mendocino College Superintendent/President Arturo Reyes.

During the term of this MOU, the Mendocino Lake Community College District will provide exclusive instructional and student services in the Service Area. Programs and services may include but are not limited to: for-credit instruction, non-credit instruction, not-for-credit instruction, dual enrollment programs, distance education, adult education, High School Equivalency, and other testing services. In addition, College of the Redwoods will transfer the Fine Woodworking Program to Mendocino College after necessary regulatory approvals are completed.

The two colleges are also working together to initiate a transfer of territory process that will, if approved, permanently transfer the College of the Redwoods’ Mendocino Coast service area to Mendocino College. Interim President Snow-Flamer stated, “we’re now going to turn our attention to working collaboratively in the process of permanently transferring the service area to Mendocino College in 2017.”