Dr. Tom Jackson, President of Humboldt State University, and I signed a milestone memorandum of understanding (MOU) today signifying the fact that we recognize each other as high quality institutions of higher learning and our commitment to work together to enhance the educational opportunities in our community and contribute the economic vitality of our region. Our mission at CR is to open doors to the community by providing high-quality educational opportunities and services for students and which strengthen the economic vitality of our region. To my mind, HSU is our natural partner in this mission.

We have already identified several areas as potential synergy:

• Creating more seamless pathways for transfer between our two institutions
• Joint academic programs
• Admissions processes
• Intercollegiate athletics
• Housing, and
• Campus safety

I am thrilled to deepen CR’s connection to HSU through this innovative agreement. I believe that this MOU between CR and HSU will offer a transformative experience for our students and our respective institutions. I am honored that HSU has agreed to enter into this unprecedented MOU with us. On a personal note, I am delighted to have Dr. Jackson's leadership and vision guiding Humboldt State University.

We can already point to several initiatives that have already seen the fruits of our collaboration:

• Creating a pathway between our Nursing students and the new HSU Bachelors of Nursing program.
• Incorporating a HSU transfer specialist in our Counseling department.
• Having our Multicultural & Diversity Center work closely with HSU’s Cultural Centers for Academic Excellence to increase student equity, retention and success.
• The CR and HSU library partnership where all CR students and employees can check out books and use other resources at no cost at HSU.

I presented Dr. Jackson with a gift of a weathervane from CR. Two of our phenomenal welding students--Silver Randall and Anthony Thompson, created the weathervane. I attached a picture of the gift to this article.  I also attached a copy of the signed MOU to this article.

Below is a "copy" of the press release that we sent out to local media outlets this morning.

The College of the Redwoods and Humboldt State University formalized a longstanding partnership on Friday, with the overall goal of making the path to a four-year degree seamless for students who transfer.

HSU President Tom Jackson and CR President Keith Flamer signed a memorandum of understanding today at an event at CR.

The agreement establishes a formal collaboration on joint academic programs, admissions, intercollegiate athletics, university housing and campus safety, and a commitment to discuss additional partnership and/ or collaboration opportunities.

The MOU builds upon several recent HSU-CR initiatives to improve pathways and share resources, including the launch of HSU’s RN to BSN nursing program, created with the help of CR and other partners.

CR also created three new degree pathways that will prepare CR students in Social Justice, Environmental Science, and Social Work and Human Services to attend HSU and other four-year schools. And CR students and employees can check out books and access other resources at HSU’s Library for free without an annual membership. 

“We’re building on an already strong relationship. We’re excited to take things a step further by creating a framework of educational opportunities for CR students to become Humboldt State students and earn their four-year degree,” President Jackson says. “By staying in the region, they also contribute to the local economy and enrich the communities of the North Coast.”

President Flamer agrees, stating, “This agreement formally acknowledges that College of the Redwoods and Humboldt State University are active educational partners working together to provide high quality educational opportunities to our shared community. I am thrilled to deepen CR’s connection to HSU through this innovative agreement and am convinced that this will be transformative for both of our institutions.”