Program+Information

== =Program Information =

The Mendocino College (MC), High School Equivalency Program (HEP) was originally designed to assist migrant and seasonal farmworkers and their families in obtaining the equivalent of a high school diploma (GED). MC-HEP has the following goals:
 * 1. to provide migrant and seasonal farmworkers with the academic skills necessary to pass the GED exam;**
 * 2. to provide career counseling information;**
 * 3. to increase awareness of job opportunities, job training programs, higher education, and the military service.**

The program is administered by Interim Project Director, Minerva Flores. The grant is under the supervision of the Principal Investigator, Meridith Randall, Vice President of Education and Student Services. MC-HEP has made substantial gains in the number of participants who have attained their GED certificates since its inception. In the first year of operation, HEP's graduation rate stood at 18%. In the second year, MC-HEP had a graduation of 57% and in year three it stands at 62%.

MC- HEP is located near the majority of Mendocino County's migrant population in Ukiah. Among its services, MC-HEP provides: a morning and evening class schedule, classrooms and a computer lab with adequate supplies, instructional and testing materials, tutorial services and comprehensive GED instruction in English and Spanish as well as complete bilingual services MC-HEP has created an enthusiastic and encouraging atmosphere through personal contact and individual attention. Moreover, the design implemented by MC-HEP includes a large committed network of organizations collaborating to provide services both during and after successful completion of the program.

MC-HEP participants are being placed in career positions, job-training programs, and they are also continuing their education at Mendocino College. All MC-HEP participants benefited from services offered by MC-HEP such as job search strategies, labor market research, and employment information. While in the program or after completing the program, many participants were able to obtain a better job as a result of being informed of employment opportunities and community resources available to them. 