<p class="ql-align-justify">The Contra Costa Community College District values academic freedom, the freedom of faculty and students to pursue knowledge without constraint and to explore the life of the mind and express observations in an open, responsible, and respectful academic environment. Only in such a free environment can imagination thrive and intellectual skills develop.</p><p class="ql-align-justify"><br></p><p class="ql-align-justify">Institutions of higher learning exist to seek the truth and to serve the common good. Academic freedom must be guarded as a basic right of all people in a free society. The freedom to think, to read, to speak, and to question is necessary for the development of an informed society.</p><p class="ql-align-justify"><br></p><p class="ql-align-justify">Los Medanos College (LMC) provides excellent transfer and innovative career-technical opportunities in East Contra Costa County. A focus on student learning and success helps students build their abilities and competencies as lifelong learners, and provides critical educational preparation to help them to succeed in their career endeavors. Special opportunities include the only honors program certified as part of the UCLA Transfer Alliance, and learning communities supported by faculty and staff. With programs like Engineering, Nursing, Communication Studies, Child Development, Instrumentation Technology, Mathematics, and Process Technology, students receive the resources they need to excel in today's competitive workforce and at four-year colleges. LMC's main campus is located in Pittsburg, with a center in Brentwood.</p><p class="ql-align-justify"><br></p><p class="ql-align-justify"><strong>Why&nbsp;Los Medanos College (LMC)</strong></p><ul><li class="ql-align-justify"><u>Diversity:</u>&nbsp;LMC believes deeply in the important role of diversity in the success of it's students and institution.&nbsp;The highest potential – individually and collectively – can only be achieved when LMC embraces and celebrates the diversity of the student body and community; hire, support, and retain a diverse and highly-qualified workforce; provide a wide array of diverse course offerings, academic programs, and support services; ensure that diverse perspectives and culturally-responsive practices are reflected in the curricula and learning environments; and advocate for racial and social justice for all.</li><li class="ql-align-justify"><u>Community:</u>&nbsp;Students and staff enjoy the friendly atmosphere at LMC – the feeling that everyone wants to help one another. Students also rave about their professors and the personal attention they receive. With&nbsp;a small class size of 35, students get to know their classmates and their instructors.</li><li class="ql-align-justify"><u>New Facilities:</u>&nbsp;The LMC service area has undergone rapid growth and development. To serve its ever-expanding community, in fall 2020 LMC completed a new Brentwood Center located at 1351 Pioneer Square. The new Center houses 15 instructional classrooms, four science labs, library resources, tutoring labs, and open learning spaces, as well as a bookstore, a food service area, and 738 parking spaces. The College completed construction of a 30,450 square-foot Kinesiology &amp; Athletics Complex, followed by a new 36,600 square-foot Student Union in spring 2020. The first floor of the Student Union includes a new bookstore, food services area, student lounge, and a 485-seat conference center. The second floor features new offices and meeting space for Student Life and the Associated Students, a large social gathering area for student clubs, and meeting space for up to four learning communities. In spring 2019, LMC opened a new Campus Safety Center, which provides enhanced emergency operations for the College.</li></ul>