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Introduction
2015-2016 Catalog
Reedley College’s History
Reedley College was established in May 1926, as Reedley
Junior College. Institutional doors were opened in September
1926 with a total of 30 students and six course offerings. In
1936 a separate building on the Reedley High School campus
was built to house the junior college administration and
provide additional classrooms. On July 1, 1946, the college
recognized its role as a total community college.
By the late 1940s the governing board decided the time
was right for the college to develop a separate campus and
a separate identity. Thus, the board began negotiations to
purchase the current campus site at Reed and Manning
Avenues, once part of the historic Thomas Law Reed Ranch.
In September 1956, the college moved to its present site,
where it has continued to grow and expand.
In 1963 the college became a member of the State Center
Community College District combining the resources of two
of the oldest community colleges in the state. In subsequent
years, Reedley College’s influence expanded into several other
communities including Dinuba, Easton, Fowler, Kingsburg,
Parlier, Sanger and Selma. In 1980, the name was officially
changed to Kings River Community College to better reflect
the communities it served. The area served by the college
continued to grow northward into the rural communities in
the greater Fresno area. Serving communities as far-reaching
as Clovis, Kerman, Madera, and Oakhurst, Kings River
Community College developed three North Centers.
In accordance with the surrounding communities’ wishes,
the name Reedley College was restored in July, 1998.
In its 88 years, Reedley College has developed into an
essential component of higher education in the central
San Joaquin Valley, offering over 67 areas of study taught
by approximately 178 full-time faculty and 400 part-time
faculty. Since fall 2000, the combined sites under the Reedley
College umbrella have provided services to over 102,000
individuals, amounting to an average of over 11,000 students
per semester.
The presidents, in order of tenure are:
Edward W. Hauck (1926-1930)
J.T. MacRuer (1930-1933)
J.O. McLaughlin (1933-1950)
Leo Wolfson (1950-1956)
Gus Reimer (1956-1957)
Stephen E. Epler (1957-1960)
Clifford M. Boyer (1960-1976)
Ray A. Cattani (1976-1981)
Lincoln H. Hall (1981-1983)
Richard J. Giese (Acting President 1983-1984)
Abel B. Sykes, Jr. (1984-1989)
Richard J. Giese (1989-1997)
Thomas A. Crow (1997-2003)
Tony Cantú (Interim President 2003-2004)
Barbara A. Hioco (2004-2011)
Mitjl Carvalho Capet (2011-2012)
Michael White (Interim President 2012-2013)
Sandra Caldwell (2013-present)
Reedley College provides comprehensive curriculum offerings,
lifelong learning opportunities, counseling, and educational
services. The campus serves approximately 5,500 students
each semester and offers instructional opportunities that range
from traditional classrooms and science laboratories to state-
of-the-art occupational training facilities in day, evening, early
morning, Online and interactive distance education formats.
The college’s location near mountains and farmland permits
the natural surroundings to become part of the learning
environment. Forestry students manage an 800-acre forest at
Sequoia Lake, near Kings Canyon National Park, one hour
from Reedley. Agriculture students gain, experience on the
campus’ 300-acre farm, the largest on-campus community
college farm in the state. In addition, Reedley College is one
of only ten community colleges in California to provide on-
campus housing.
The Reedley campus offers over 1,500 class sections each
year in 67 areas of study and gives students a choice of
transfer, Associate Degree, Associate Degrees for Transfer,
Certificates of Achievement, and Certificates. The campus
offers occupational programs in accounting, agriculture,
animal science, automotive technology, aviation maintenance
technology, business, child development, computer digital
imaging, criminology, dental assisting, environmental
horticulture, forest/park technology, health care interpreting,
information systems, manufacturing technology, mechanized
agriculture, medical administrative assistant, nursing assistant
training, office technology, plant science, and welding
technology.
Reedley Middle College High School
Established in 2012, the Reedley Middle College High
School is a partnership between Reedley College and Kings
Canyon Unified School District. It is located on the Reedley
College campus and offers students the opportunity to earn
college credit while completing their high school diploma.
The program focuses on business with an agriculture and
technology emphasis and is open to all students in the Kings
Canyon Unified School District.