Consumer Information

The Higher Education Opportunity Act of 2008 (HEOA) requires postsecondary institutions who participate in federal aid programs to provide disclosures to the public. In compliance with federal law, Bakersfield College discloses the following written and linked information to current and prospective students, current employees, parents, coaches, and counselors of prospective student athletes.

The Bakersfield College (BC) Financial Aid Office sends an Annual Notice to students by email containing a link to this Consumer Information page and its disclosures. The Financial Aid Office can also provide a paper copy of Consumer Information disclosures. Use the contact information at the bottom of this page to submit your request.

Vision and Mission Statement

Bakersfield College, as noted in its Educational Master Plan, builds upon more than 100 years of excellence and continues to contribute to the intellectual, cultural, and economic vitality of the communities it serves. To learn more about the mission, vision, and values of Bakersfield College, visit About BC.

The following disclosures provide in-depth data about the school, its demographics and programs, and the policies that govern it:

Family Education Rights and Privacy Act

The Family Education Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) is a federal law designed to protect the privacy of student records. Parents or eligible students have the right to inspect and review the student's educational records, request corrections to records they believe are inaccurate or misleading, and file complaints with the Department of Education. (The student must create an FSA ID or log in with their existing ID before filing the complaint.)

In addition, schools must have written consent from parents or the eligible student to release any information from a student's educational record with some exceptions as detailed in the Privacy Act.

The following pages disclose Bakersfield College's policies in relation to the Privacy Act and how students can protect their privacy:

• Privacy of Student Records - Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA)
• Financial Aid FERPA Release
• Student Privacy 101

Copies of the Bakersfield College FERPA Policy are available in the Office of Admissions & Records. Students who wish to inspect, review, or challenge any of their educational records must make their request in writing to the Director of Enrollment Services (Office of Admissions & Records) of the campus where the student was enrolled.

Financial Aid Penalties for Drug Law Violations

In addition to providing notice to students about the Privacy Act, colleges must provide students with clear notice regarding the penalties for federal or state convictions of drug-related offenses while receiving financial aid. The following disclosure, the Federal Student Financial Aid Penalties for Drug Law Violations, details these penalties and the methods by which a student can regain eligibility. General information about Bakersfield College's drug and alcohol policies can be found under the "Health and Safety" section below.

Financial Aid Information

Schools must make available to students information about all federal, state, local, private, and institutional financial student assistance programs, both need-based and non-need-based, that are available to enrolled students. These disclosures must also explain student eligibility requirements, procedures and forms for applying for aid, criteria for awarding, and disbursement information. The following links provide this information.

Aid Programs Available to Students

• Federal and State Need-Based and Non-Need-Based Funding
• Scholarship Information
• Federal Work Study
• Job Placement Center
• Student Loan Information and Disclosures

Student Eligibility Requirements

• Financial Aid Eligibility & Denial
• Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) Policy
• Financial Aid Appeals
• Student Rights and Responsibilities
• Student Terms of Agreement

Procedures and Forms for Applying for Financial Aid

• Applying for Federal and State Aid
• The Student's Responsibilities During the Verification Process
• Financial Aid Forms
• Financial Aid Contact Information

Awarding Criteria, Disbursement Schedule

• Student Packaging Policy
• Financial Aid Disbursement Schedule & Policy

Policies Governing Refunds, Return of Title IV Funds

• Refund Policy
• Return of Federal Financial Aid

Miscellaneous Financial Aid Disclosures

• Policies Governing Consortium Agreements
• Filing Complaints With the Department of Education (students must create FSA ID or use existing one to begin complaint process)

Institutional Information

In addition to financial aid information, schools must provide disclosures about the institution's cost of education, academic programs, and the facilities, faculty, and staff of those programs, including facilities and services for students with disabilities. These disclosures must also include accreditation, licensure, and other institutional data such as graduation and retention rates, employment statistics, and equity data. The following provides these disclosures.

Student Right to Know

You can view Bakersfield College's Right to Know page for completion and transfer rate information, and you can view detailed data at the bottom of this page.

Institutional Cost

• Tuition and Cost of Attendance based on the California Student Aid Commission's (CSAC) budget categories and calculations
• Cost Comparison 
• Net Price Calculator (Student tool provided for students to research cost to attend Bakersfield College).

Academic Programs, Facilities, Faculty, and Accreditation

The Academic Year definition for Bakersfield College is as follows: one academic year consists of a minimum of 24 semester units of credit or 36 weeks of instruction.

• Academic Programs
• Degrees and Certificates
• Programs Requiring California Licensing
• Accreditation, Approval, and Licensure of Institution and Programs
• Complaint Process for Accreditor
• Plans for Improving Academic Programs (Educational Master Plan)
• Articulation Agreements
• Facilities
• Facilities and Services for Students with Disabilities (DSPS)
• Titles and Contact Information of Employees Able to Provide Information About DSPS
• BC Directory for Departments and Faculty

Student Outcomes

• Institutional Scorecard - Student Success
• Retention Rate
• Graduation Rates/Graduation Rates Transfer (Student Right-to-Know Act)
• Transfer-in Rates (Under "Enrollment") 
• Job Placement Rates for Graduates / Graduate and Professional Education Placement for Graduates
• Licensure Rates for Nursing and Radiologic Programs
• Teacher Preparation Program Information
  (Note: Although BC offers degrees for Early Childhood Education, Elementary Teacher Education, and <a href="https://bakersfield.elumenapp.com/catalog/2023-2024/program/child-development-teacher-certificate-of-achievement-summer-2019, BC is not a provider of a Teacher Preparation Program. BC prepares students to transfer to schools that provide Teacher Preparation Programs. For additional information, the State of California lists schools that are providers of Teacher Preparation Programs. In addition, TEACH California lists community colleges that participate in its Teacher Preparation Pipeline.)
• Graduation and retention rate must be provided to student-athletes, their parents, high school coaches, guidance counselors when an athletically related student aid offer is made.  Bakersfield College does not offer financial aid to students based on athletic ability.  For information on graduation and retention rate or student success programs for student-athletes, please contact the Athletic Department, 1801 Panorama Drive, Bakersfield College, CA 93305

Student Body Diversity and Equity

• College Navigator Profile
• Student Demographic Profile
• Student Equity Plan
• Demographics of Pell Grant Recipients 
• Equity in Athletics Disclosure

Enrollment and Academic Policies and Procedures

• How Students Can Enroll
• Admission Eligibility
• Outreach & School Relations for Prospective Students
• Important Dates
• Drop for Non-Payment Policy
• Requirements for Withdrawal
• Transfer of Credit Policy
• Process for Filing Complaints
• Copyright Infringement Information
• Textbook and Course Material Information

Student Life and Services

• Student Life - Activities
• Standards of Student Conduct
• Computer Use and Peer-to-Peer File Sharing Policies*
• Disabled Students Programs and Services (DSPS)
• Extended Opportunity Programs and Services (EOP&S)
• Veterans Services
• Constitution Day

Health and Safety

• Campus Security Policy/Crime Statistics
• Drug and Alcohol Prevention/Policy for Students and Employees
• Effects of Alcohol on Physical Health
• Health Services
• Vaccination Policy (information on vaccine services under "Frequently Asked Questions")

Voter Registration

Bakersfield College encourages eligible students to register to vote. Students may access the California Voter Registration website (https://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/voter-registration/).

The Office of Student Life also organizes voter registration events periodically. Additionally, voter registration cards may be available at the Office of Financial Aid.

The following resources are for students who wish to register to vote via website:

• California Legislative Information
• Learn About Elections and Voting
• Register to Vote Now

Copyright Infringement Illegal Distribution of Copyrighted Materials

BC supports the Higher Education Opportunity Act and Digital Millennium Copyright Act, including efforts to eliminate the illegal distribution of copyrighted material. BC policy developed through the district provides guidelines to students, faculty, and staff to assist in compliance with federal copyright laws.

*Disclosure to Students Regarding Illegal Peer-to-Peer File Sharing, BC's Policy Regarding Infringement, and the Civil and Criminal Penalties for Violation of Federal Copyright Laws

Bakersfield College, as stated in its District's Terms of Use, complies with the provisions of the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA). The District's policy states that "Copying, distributing (either free or for monetary gain), or receiving copyrighted software or electronic information without paying the specified royalty (U.S. copyright laws) are prohibited." In addition, the policy states that "Sanctions for violation of the District/College Computing and Network Use Policies or Procedures may be imposed. Sanctions may range from a warning, to restriction of use, to disciplinary action, and/or legal action."

The Board's policy prohibits actions such as copyright infringement as described in Section 7E2 Fairness and Honesty of its policy manual. Management, faculty, and classified employees who break the District's policy can be subject to reduction in pay, demotion, suspension, or termination as stated in their employment contracts as published in the confidential/management staff contract Section AP6J pp. 84-87, classified staff contract Article 13 pp. 63-69, and the faculty contract Article 4 pp. 14-16. The faculty's disciplinary process is guided by the agreement between the Kern Community College District (KCCD) and the Kern Community College District Community College Association/California Teachers Association/National Education Association (KCCD/CCA/CTA/NEA) as detailed in the linked faculty contract.

Civil and Criminal Penalties for Violation of Federal Copyright Laws

Copyright infringement is the act of exercising, without permission or legal authority, one or more of the exclusive rights granted to the copyright owner under section 106 of the Copyright Act (Title 17 of the United States Code). These rights include the right to reproduce or distribute a copyrighted work. In the file-sharing context, downloading or uploading substantial parts of a copyrighted work without authority constitutes an infringement.

Penalties for copyright infringement include civil and criminal penalties. In general, anyone found liable for civil copyright infringement may be ordered to pay either actual damages or “statutory” damages affixed at not less than $750 and not more than $30,000 per work infringed. For “willful” infringement, a court may award up to $150,000 per work infringed. A court can, in its discretion, also assess costs and attorneys' fees. For details, see Title 17, United States Code, Sections 504, 505.Willful copyright infringement can also result in criminal penalties, including imprisonment of up to five years and fines of up to $250,000 per offense. For more information, please see the website of the U.S. Copyright Office.

Student Right to Know Data

Number of students, by race and gender

Contact Financial Aid

Federal School Code: 001118

Phone: (661) 395-4428 | Fax: (661) 395-4688 | Email: bc_faid@bakersfieldcollege.edu

Address:
Bakersfield College
Office of Financial Aid
1801 Panorama Dr.
Bakersfield, CA 93305