HISTORY OF REEDLEY COLLEGE
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 its almost 100 year history, Reedley College has developed into an essential component of higher education in the central San Joaquin Valley. The campus serves approximately 17,495 students 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 2024, the college opened a flight school at the Reedley Municipal Airport. Reedley College is also one of only 11 community colleges in California to provide on-campus housing. The Reedley campus offers students a choice of transfer, Associate Degrees, Associate Degrees for Transfer, Certificates of Achievement, and Certificates.
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REEDLEY COLLEGE
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