LTCC vision: To be California's premier destination community college

As the world changes around South Lake Tahoe, Lake Tahoe Community College (LTCC) is evolving to meet the new demands of education and the student body. As there is a decline in community college enrollment across the country, LTCC is being creative in recruitment of students to the campus and investing in not only the environment, but in removing barriers many have in getting a secondary education.

That was the message during Lake Tahoe Community College President Jeff DeFranco's first State of the College Address on Thursday.

He laid out a road map from the college of today to how it will look as the college of tomorrow, all by keeping the needs of students first.

The path includes student housing, free college for high school students from around the lake, keeping and recruiting engaging staff, a new strategic plan and more options for students.

"We have a lot to be proud of at this college," said DeFranco.

He said strengths of LTCC are the fact that they have a world-class faculty, have small class sizes and high personal contact, its in a premiere location with a beautiful campus, they have resources from bond measure and are "small but mighty."

When looking at one's strengths, its always good to look at areas to improve as well.

DeFranco said they are going to work on marketing and targeting more students through advertising and social media, improve technology, play a role in the housing crisis, invest in the classroom, make a stronger pathway between local high schools and the college, improve schedules, continue use of the theatre facility and build more relationships, all while being held accountable for designs.

One-third of the students on the 160-acre campus are first generation college students, and they have students from 42 states and 24 countries.

"We have the ability to change their lives," DeFranco said as he outlined the college's road to being a Destination College, a focus of theirs since 2013.

He said they will invest in programs that align with the local labor market demand and offer hospitality management and wilderness education degrees.

Removing barriers to education is also a major goal of the college. DeFranco said LTCC their open educational resources include 100 laptops students can check out, an expanded lending library, longer library and learning services hours, and a class schedule that will include notation of those classes without textbooks.

One way to remove barriers is the "Lake Tahoe College Promise."

This will include creating a pathway for students from high schools around the lake and offer free tuition and no fees and make LTCC the preferred option for Lake Tahoe residents.

100 South Tahoe High students enrolled in LTCC courses this week. The freshman class's "Ten Year Career Planning" course counts as five college units, then an additional unit during each of their next three years. Digital Media Arts at STHS is a four unit class, and emergency medicine and sports medicine also count for LTCC credits. Fees for the high school students are waived up to 11.7 units per quarter said Brad Deeds, LTCC Dean of Workforce Development and Instruction.

DeFranco said there are significant increases in enrollment of first generation generation, underrepresented and underserved student populations, and increased college aspirations in youth. They want to capture these students, keep them engaged and have LTCC be the preferred option for Lake Tahoe students.

Another way the college is adapting to change is seen in their curriculum. Mathematics was once the largest department, but that has been replaced by Fire Science to meet the needs of the community. Fire Science is followed by Mathematics, English, World Languages and Physical Education. Art and Biology have fallen off the top five department sizes.

"Measure F was a gift the community gave to us," said DeFranco. Voters in South Lake Tahoe approved the 2014 measure that will put $55 million into revitalization of the college.

Several projects are almost completed, or have already been finished using Measure F funds including the Plaza with heated concrete, physical education building upgrades, heated walkway through the parking lot to the library, premier soccer field, a student commons and WiFi upgrades throughout the campus.

Coming up will be a mobility hub with covered bike parking, a bus shelter and perhaps bike lockers. DeFranco said the college has teamed up with Tahoe Transportation District (TTD) to get the shelter installed, all part of the steps they are taking to create a 21st century environment for the students.

Also a result of a partnerships, all LTCC students will get free bus passes through ADVANCE, most likely by October.

The University Center, which is currently under construction, is another way LTCC is changing to meet the needs of the community. It will offer a diverse array of programs and partners DeFranco said.

"This will not only change this college, but change this community," said DeFranco.

Sierra Nevada College offers a degree in Psychology and Global Business Management at LTCC already, and when the center is completed more are expected.

By 2022, DeFranco said LTCC plans to be a residential campus and be a "major player" in solving the housing problem in South Lake Tahoe for their students. He said in the meantime them will offer interim support with housing. He said during 2017-18 they will secure a development partner to create a public-private partnership.

"We are building a guided pathways model to support student success and completion," said DeFranco.

"We are small, but mighty," he said as he closed the convocation.