Embarking on our 60th year of service, College of the Redwoods is launching a strategic review process intended to ensure that our Del Norte campus continues to meet the local community’s needs. You may ask why would we want to conduct a strategic review of the campus now? We are at a moment in time where we must stabilize our Del Norte campus’ financial health and enhance the educational experience we currently provide students by better aligning our curricular offerings with the projected economic needs of the county while maintaining our commitment to access and excellence.
This pivotal review process will involve faculty and staff from within the college and stakeholders from the broader Del Norte County community. The planning process will be comprehensive, encompassing academic and administrative functions, revenue-generating activities, and examination of expenditures.
I want to state clearly that the Board of Trustees and the administration’s commitment to the Del Norte campus is unwavering. Our commitment is demonstrated by the continued investment in faculty and staff, the allocations of funds for physical infrastructure improvements, a promise to offer more health care-related degrees and certificates to the Del Norte campus curriculum offerings, and the prioritization of a new health care education/training facility in the bond argument going to the voters in November 2024.
The review process will assess the ongoing, vital work of College of the Redwoods Del Norte campus by using its current strengths, addressing existing programmatic gaps, identifying new opportunities, and preparing for future challenges —challenges that will require new approaches if we are going to continue to serve the needs of the community. I believe that now is the time for us to work together to dream, to reflect, and to imagine the Del Norte campus as we want it to be.
In this review effort, we will need to leverage the enthusiasm and commitment of our Del Norte colleagues and build on the momentum they’ve already created. This is evident through the innovative improvements to our nursing program, including the expansion of our Career Mobility Program (LVN/Paramedic to RN) from 10 students to 20. Additionally, we have reintroduced the Certified Nursing Assistant training and phlebotomy courses. We have also welcomed new faculty members in business and biology, both of whom are teaching at Pelican Bay and Del Norte.
On the facilities side, the Learning Resource Center has undergone significant changes over the past year. Over 2,000 outdated and irrelevant books were removed from the library’s general collection, and six bookshelves were taken out to create additional seating and a versatile multi-purpose room. Two of the three student rooms are now equipped with computers, and the leaking roof and skylight were replaced.
This review process, led by a seven-member task force, will be open and data-driven, reflecting our commitment to transparency and continuous improvement. By doing so, we aim to move closer to achieving the goals outlined in our Institutional Effectiveness Scorecard and Education Master Plan, including increasing the number of students who earn degrees and certificates and those who secure jobs closely related to their field of study. I expect the task force to release the strategic review by Jan. 15, 2025.
Dr. Keith Flamer is the president of the College of the Redwoods.
