History
The establishment of a college for the Coalinga Union High School District was proposed in the spring of 1932. The official beginning of the Coalinga Extension Center of Fresno State College dates from October 3, 1932. In September 1941, Coalinga Junior College became an independent unit under the direction of the Governing Board of the Coalinga Union High School District. Construction of a new campus on Cherry Lane near the northern limit of the City of Coalinga was begun on October 3, 1955, and the buildings were occupied on September 13, 1956.
In November of 1961, the voters of Coalinga Union High School District approved the formation of a separate junior college district, and in June of 1962, the voters of Lemoore High School District voted to annex to the college district, as did voters of Riverdale and Tranquility High School Districts in December of 1962. Effective July 1, 1969, the official name of the college was changed to West Hills College in keeping with the nature of the expanded district.
In order to effectively serve the college district, West Hills opened the North District Center in the city of Firebaugh in 1971. As of 2022 the North District Center is known as the Firebaugh Center due to the opening of the new 42-thousand square foot facility.
In 1979 the District purchased land in the City of Lemoore, and in 1981 a classroom building and an office were erected. This was the Kings County Center until January 12, 2002, when the 555 College Avenue campus of West Hills College Lemoore opened. A generous donation of land from Robert and Mardell Pedersen and Lionel and Lola Simas made the campus possible.
In 2004 West Hills College became a multi-college district with two colleges: Coalinga College and West Hills College Lemoore, and a center in Firebaugh.
Academic Freedom
The Board believes that academic freedom is an essential right arising from the nature and function of education. The aims and objectives of the West Hills Community College District point to the unreserved and unqualified obligation of the instructor to pursue his/her subject and the program area surrounding it in a manner consistent with standards of scholarly objectivity as defined by academic tradition and practice.
The West Hills Community College District holds that academic freedom involves inherently the following rights and responsibilities:
- The right to explore to the limit of competence and training, the assigned teaching area and its references.
- The responsibility within the teaching area to weigh studiously serious intellectual differences, when applicable, which rise from historical context and perspective.
- The right to present the democratic process with its freedoms, rights, and safeguards as the sole way in which the academic community and nation can exist and establish the means for progress and the greater fulfillment of man.
- The responsibility in solving problems to appeal only to those criteria sanctioned historically by reason as confirmed through objective discussion.
- The right to survey, probe, and question the condition of man within the guidelines of accepted research techniques and intelligent discussion.
- The responsibility of avoiding the intellectual error of assuming absolute answers for complex problems and presenting these answers as unquestionable truth.
- The responsibility to introduce within the assigned teaching areas, controversial concepts, issues and systems, subjecting these ideas to the test of objective reasoning.
- The responsibility of recognizing, respecting, and discussing fairly those areas of human activity not amenable as such to the scientific method.
- The right to create unhampered and clear intellectual atmosphere, maintained, encouraged, and supported by staff, administration and trustees.
- The responsibility of avoiding any teaching method, which relies on rigid authority or implied infallibility.
- The responsibility in challenging students, notwithstanding their ability or program, to develop a spirit of inquiry regarding all academic areas and to seek logical answers.
- The West Hills Community College District considers academic freedom defined by its attendant rights and responsibilities as a vital, primary force in the achievement of the aims and objectives of the institution.
Coalinga College will provide:
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A transfer program;
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Occupational courses and programs to meet the immediate and projected needs of students;
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A procedure by which learning disabilities can be detected and remedial help made available;
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Instructional and support services for students with special needs, to include but not limited to, those with physical or educational disabilities, the senior citizen, and the re-entry student;
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Educational opportunities and learning experiences for all residents of the college district;
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General education in those areas that is required for everyday living, such as communications and the humanities;
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Courses and programs that will enhance the physical and emotional well-being of the members of its service community;
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Courses and programs that will familiarize students with a wide cultural base so that they may become aware of their humanity and become effective members of society;
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Courses that will enable students and community members to acquire the knowledge, skill, and experience in recreational activities for the enrichment of their lives;
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Support services for instructional courses and programs offered throughout the District;
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Experiences that will develop in students a sense of pride in themselves, their community, their nation, and Coalinga College.
Compliance Statement
Coalinga College does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex (including sexual orientation), handicap (or disability), or age in any of its policies, procedures, educational programs, activities or practices, in compliance with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 pertaining to race, color, and national origin and Title IX of the Educational Amendments of 1972, 20 U.S.C. §§ 1681 et seq (Title IX) and its implementing regulations, 34 C.F.R. Part 106.; Section 504 of the American Disabilities Act of 1990 pertaining to handicap; and the Age Discrimination Act of 1975 (pertaining to age).
This nondiscrimination policy covers admission and access to, and treatment and employment in, the College’s programs and activities, including vocational education.
The lack of English language skills will not be a barrier to admission and participation in the college’s vocational education programs. West Hills College recognizes its obligation to provide overall program accessibility throughout the college for handicapped persons.
Inquiries regarding Federal laws and regulations concerning nondiscrimination in education or the District’s compliance with those provisions may also be directed to: Office for Civil Rights, U.S. Department of Education, Old Federal Building, 50 United Nations Plaza, Room 239, San Francisco, California 94102.
The coordinator for Title IX, Section 504/ADA is Javier Cazares. Inquiries regarding the equal opportunity policies, the filing of grievances or grievance procedures covering discrimination complaints may be directed to: Javier Cazares, Dean of Student Services, West Hills College, 300 Cherry Lane, Coalinga, CA 93210, (559) 934-2176.
Inquiries regarding Federal laws and regulations concerning nondiscrimination in education or the District’s compliance with those provisions may also be directed to: Office for Civil Rights, U.S. Department of Education, 50 Beale Street, Suite 7200, San Francisco, California 94105, 415.486.5555 – OR THE: Department of Fair Employment & Housing, 1900 Mariposa Mall, Suite 130, Fresno, CA, 93721.
West Hills College is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
Declaracion de Cumplimiento
West Hills College no discrimina por razón de raza, color, origen nacional, sexo (incluyendo orientación sexual), discapacidad o edad en cualquiera de sus pólizas, procedimientos, programas educativos, actividades o prácticas, en cumplimiento del título VI de la ley de derechos Civiles de 1964 relativas a raza, color, origen nacional y Título IX de las enmiendas educativas de 1972 , 20 U.S.C. §§ 1681 et seq. (Título IX) y su normativa de desarrollo, 34 C.F.R. parte 106.; Sección 504 de la American Disabilities Act de 1990 referente a discapacidad; y la ley de discriminación de edad de 1975 (edad).
Esta pólizas de no discriminación incluye admisión y acceso a y tratamiento y el empleo en programas y actividades, incluyendo la educación vocacional de la Universidad.
La falta de conocimientos del idioma inglés no será una barrera para la admisión y participación en programas de educación vocacional de la Universidad. Coalinga College reconoce su obligación de proporcionar la total accesibilidad del programa a través de la Universidad para personas con discapacidad.
Preguntas con respecto a las leyes federales y reglamentos relativos a la no discriminación en la educación o cumplimiento del distrito las disposiciones también deben dirigirse a: Oficina para los derechos civiles, Departamento de Educación de Estados Unidos, Old Federal Building, 50 Naciones Unidas Plaza, Room 239, San Francisco, California 94102.
El Coordinador de Título IX, sección 504/ADA es Javier Cazares. Las consultas sobre las políticas de igualdad de oportunidades, la presentación de reclamaciones o procedimientos para quejas sobre quejas de discriminación puede ser dirigida a: Javier Cazares, Servicios del decano de los estudiantes, West Hills College, 300 Cherry Lane, Coalinga, CA 93210, (559) 934-2176.
Preguntas con respecto a las leyes federales y reglamentos relativos a la no discriminación en la educación o cumplimiento del distrito las disposiciones también deben dirigirse a: Oficina de derechos civiles, Departamento de educación, 50 Beale Street, Suite 7200, San Francisco, California 94105, (415) 486-5555-OR el: Departamento de Feria de empleo y vivienda, 1900 Mariposa Mall, Suite 130, Fresno, CA, 93721.
West hills College Coalinga es un empleador de igualdad de oportunidades.