The West Hills Community College District Board of Trustees, in response to petitions from the community, has officially approved the name changes for West Hills College Coalinga to Coalinga College and West Hills College Lemoore to Lemoore College. The decision was reached today after a public hearing and voting during the Board's session, with a 5-2 vote in favor of both petitions.
The public hearing, which took place on January 19, 2024, allowed community members and stakeholders to voice their opinions on the proposed name changes. The Board carefully considered the feedback received during the extensive rebranding process, including a brand audit, focus groups, surveys, and multiple community meetings.
"We are excited to announce the approval of the name changes for both Coalinga College and Lemoore College," said West Hills Community College District Chancellor Dr. Kristin Clark. "I would like to thank our board and their decision as it reflects our district’s commitment to responding to the evolving needs of our community and aligning with the aspirations of our students, faculty, and staff."
The West Hills Community College District will now move forward with notifying the Board of Governors of the California Community Colleges of the official name changes. The District aims to have the name change proposal placed on the agenda for the Board of Governors' meeting on March 25, 2024. Once approved at the state level, both colleges can implement their respective name changes.
"We believe that the new names better capture the essence of each college and will contribute to a stronger sense of identity for our institutions within the community," added Chancellor Clark.