Dr. Marlon Hall, Superintendent/President Dr. Tammy Robinson, Interim Vice President, Academic Services Moderator: Dr. Shaun McKay, President, Suffolk County Community College April 20, 2015

* Overview of Rural Community Colleges: * The USDA specifies that a rural areas is where the population is less than 20k people. * Susanville has a population of about 17, 500 people * 6,000 of those residents reside in the correctional facilities. * Lassen College is the only college in Lassen County, California. * Lassen County is 4,720 square miles

Los Angeles County which is 4,752 square miles with a population of 10.2 million. Clearly, there is a distinct difference between Lassen County and Los Angeles County. The population numbers alone create distinct obstacles and barriers for the rural college.

* According to the Census Bureau urban-rural classification is the delineation of geographical areas, identifying both individual urban and rural areas of the nation. * A rural area has less than 50,000 people. * Rural community colleges are the fastest growing sector of the U.S. community colleges (ruralccalliance.org).

* Difficult to find qualified faculty with proper credentials for many programs. * Pay is considerably lower than many of the comparable positions outside of the region * The area is remote. * The population does not value higher education as the employment opportunities in the area only require a high school education.

EDUCATIONAL ATTAINMENT State of California Lassen County Population 25 years and over24,455,010 +/- 1,019 24,455,01 0 (X)24,601 +/ ,60 1 (X) Less than 9th grade2,501,496 +/- 14, % +/ ,205 +/ % +/ th to 12th grade, no diploma2,085,785 +/- 10, % +/ ,861 +/ % +/- 1.4 High school graduate (includes equivalency)5,066,034 +/- 22, % +/ ,332 +/ % +/- 1.7 Some college, no degree5,404,742 +/- 15, % +/ ,496 +/ % +/- 1.8 Associate's degree1,895,918 +/- 11, % +/ ,474 +/ % +/- 1.3 Bachelor's degree4,753,446 +/- 18, % +/ ,218 +/ % +/- 1.1 Graduate or professional degree2,747,589 +/- 19, % +/ ,015 +/ % +/- 0.8 Percent high school graduate or higher(X) 81.2% +/- 0.1 (X) 79.4% +/- 1.6 Percent bachelor's degree or higher(X) 30.7% +/- 0.1 (X) 13.1% +/- 1.5

* What is the college doing to meet the needs of the population? * What happens when the community does not know what it needs?

* Logging, mining and several large prison facilities are what the economy depends on in one of the largest commercial towns in the area. * Hunting and fishing is in large demand in this area. The community also is surrounded by Lassen National Forest which has active volcanoes.

* With the influx of more prisons in the area, a new economic base for the community has been created. * They need more trained individuals for the prison population. The CDCR is in need of Licensed Vocational Nurses, and Medical Assistants. * The hospital cannot find qualified lab technicians in the community.

* LCC is developing more opportunities to have pathway programs: * Medical assisting * LVN program * Phlebotomy classes * Fire Science and Technology programs * Strengthen partnerships with other agencies and colleges

* It is imperative in any college to continuously upgrade equipment and facilities. * The college must have an active grants culture. * Need to address aging equipment * Obsolete skills being taught * Energize the faculty

* The community has to evolve slowly. * Residents must be given a clear and distinct pathway to educational opportunities. * The college must be open to re-training all sectors of the population. * The college must also maintain partnerships and continue to establish relationships beyond Lassen County.

* The college must maintain respect for its services and educational strength in the region. * The college must also continue to seek new and emerging fields of study in order to stay competitive and stabilize enrollment. * Rural college are always challenged with money. In short, always find the money! * The college must also continue to remain open to changes from those outside the region.

* Lassen County, California