Modesto Junior College and Columbia College are at the heart of our communities, providing
affordable higher education and career training opportunities for thousands of local
students. Together, these two colleges form the Yosemite Community College District
(YCCD), serving nearly 40% of local high school graduates and helping ensure that
students who cannot afford to attend a University of California or California State
University still have a pathway to succeed in college and careers.
Thank you for your feedback
Thank you to the over 900 residents who responded to the recent community survey.
Your feedback matters and we are listening. We look forward to continuing this important
conversation on protecting our local quality of education and keeping you updated.
Yosemite Community College District is the cornerstone in the community of affordable,
accessible, and flexible education, and training. Key instructional classrooms, labs,
technology and career training facilities at both Modesto Junior Colege and Columbia
College require modernization or new construction to meet the needs of students entering
the modern workforce.
Some of the classrooms, training facilities and service buildings at Modesto Junior
College and Columbia College were built over 60 years ago and have never been updated.
Community feedback has shown support for the local, quality, and affordable higher
education YCCD provides. Protecting the ability of YCCD to provide the quality of
education and training required by the modern workforce will require improvements
such as:
Upgrade career-training facilities so students are prepared for in-demand careers
in advanced manufacturing, auto tech, welding and skilled trades
Remove hazardous materials like asbestos, lead pipes, and mold
Upgrade classrooms, facilities so students can complete their first two years affordably
before transferring to CSU or UC systems
Expanding Emergency Medical Training facilities to train firefighters, paramedics
and the public safety specialists our communities need
Upgrade science labs so students are prepared for in demand careers in fields like
nursing, biotech and health sciences
Provide classrooms, facilities and technology necessary for supporting high quality
instruction in science, math, engineering and technology
Each year, more than 30,800 students and returning veterans take classes for higher
education or job training. They can become healthcare professionals providing local
medical care, first responders keeping us safe, and skilled workers fueling the local
economy.
Some of our college buildings were built over 60 years ago and have never been updated.
Additional funding is needed to help maintain, repair, and upgrade classrooms, labs,
career training equipment, technology, and facilities.
Because the cost of attending University of California and State University systems
has become so expensive, many more students are starting their education at Modesto
Junior College and Columbia College, where tuition is one-sixth the cost of state
systems.
Absolutely. Our Local community colleges train nurses, healthcare professionals that
serve medical needs, firefighters, first-responders that keep us safe and the skilled
workers who fuel our economy.
In a recent community survey, local residents identified the following priorities
for our colleges:
Remove hazardous materials like asbestos, lead pipes, mold
Upgrade career-training facilities, equipment so students are prepared for in-demand
careers in advanced manufacturing, auto tech, welding and skilled trades
Upgrade science labs so students are prepared for in demand careers in fields like
nursing, biotech and health sciences
Provide the classrooms, facilities and technology necessary for supporting high quality
instruction in science, math, engineering and technology
Expanding Emergency Medical Training facilities to train firefighters, paramedics
and the public safety specialists our communities need
We Want to Hear From You!
As we plan for the future of our community colleges, we want to hear your thoughts.
Please reach out to Jeanette Fontana at fontanaj@yosemite.edu with questions.
