Now in his fourteenth year, Sierra College Superintendent/President Willy Duncan reflects, “I’ve always believed that community colleges are a region’s most powerful economic development tool.” 

Sierra College is creating a future where Placer County employers, educators, governments and nonprofits work as “one team” to identify and meet workforce needs, equip students with high-value skills and connect them to good-paying jobs. 

Industry partnerships are in Sierra’s DNA. Sierra College leaders and faculty regularly collaborate with hundreds of employers like Bosch, Sutter, Siemens and others to advise on its 21 Career Technical Education programs and jointly design job-relevant courses to deliver job-ready students. In addition, Sierra College is building pathways between high school and four-year universities. This year, more than 5,000 high school students took Sierra College courses at their high school and received college credit through dual enrollment classes before graduating. It’s a game-changer for students, helping create quicker, more inclusive pathways to careers. 

Sierra continues to partner with regional universities and is now the no. 1 source of transfer students to Sacramento State. Sierra and Sac State have partnered to design a seamless experience at the future Placer Center, where students can take classes at both institutions concurrently. 

“These vital partnerships are designed with two goals in mind,” Duncan says. “The first is meeting the needs of our local economy with well-prepared workers to fill high-demand jobs. The second is designing the most efficient, inclusive pathways for learners of all ages to land good-paying, rewarding jobs right here in our community.”