Information for Students and Parents
Cooper's Story at Taft College
Cooper is a Taft College Alum. He attended the Transition to Independent Living Program. The TIL Program is for people who have disabilities. Students learn the essentials to take care of themselves. Cooper's story shows what he learned in the TIL Program and life after.
About Taft College
Taft College is a single campus district in Kern County. Taft is located in the foothills at the southwestern edge of the San Joaquin Valley just 35 minutes west of Bakersfield, two hours north of Los Angeles and two hours from California’s central coast. The Taft area is home to 18,000 residents and numerous companies who enjoy friendly neighbors, temperate climates and bustling economy. Cultural and recreational opportunities include the West Kern Oil Museum, Carrizo Plain National Monument, Tule Elk State Reserve and the Buena Vista Aquatic area. Residents enjoy a reasonable cost of living along with affordable housing and good schools.
The college is designated Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI) with unique programs in Energy Technology, Engineering, Dental Hygiene and STEM-related disciplines. Taft College’s Full Time Equivalent Students are over 2600 with an average class size of 20. The District has a diverse student body that is 55.9% Hispanic, 31.6% White, 6.2% Black, 2.2% Mixed Race, 1.7% Asian, 1.1% Filipino, 0.7% Native American, and 0.3% Pacific Islander. 0.4% is Unknown.
Entrance Criteria
Referrals
Applicants for the program are selected from referrals made primarily by California Regional Centers. Guidelines for making a referral are available in the TIL Application packet or from TIL Intake Coordinator. The pre-screening committee must agree that: review of required intake information indicates the program to be educationally appropriate and the least restrictive environment for the applicant. Review of required intake information indicates the applicant’s individual needs can be appropriately served by the program staff and/or community resources.
For specific entrance criteria, click here.
Interview Process
An applicant who meets the requirements for entry will be scheduled for an first interview. During the interview, applicants may be asked to demonstrate their knowledge of various independent living skills such as: following directions, interpreting schedules, menu planning, and explaining a basic budget.
The evaluation interview is necessary to assist the interview committee in determining whether the program would be an educationally appropriate and least restrictive environment for the applicant. The interview also serves to assess the applicant’s motivation level, response to instructions, acceptance of supervision, ability to relate to others, and potential for completing the program successfully. Applicants will be notified within one month after the first interview if they have been placed on the second interview list. Placement on this list means that the applicant has the potential of being accepted into the TIL program. A letter of acknowledgment will be sent to the student.
Touring
As part of the application process students are required to schedule a tour to come and see the Transition to Independent Living program in action. A tour will give an applicant a better feel for whether or not the program is a good fit. It also provides them with background information for that first interview should they be interested/accepted to interview.
Intake schedules tours by appointment only, you may schedule a tour through Brittany Brown at: 661 763-7775 or use this form. When you arrive for a tour, park in the parking lot and check in at the Center for Independent Living building.