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All other rights are reserved. © 2008 Sierra College 5000 Rocklin Road, Rocklin, CA 95677 (916) 624-3333 Welcome WELCOME Sierra College is accredited by the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges of the Western Association of Schools and Colleges, 10 Commercial Boulevard, Suite 204, Novato, CA 94949 (415) 506-0234, an in sti tu tion al ac cred it ing body recognized by the Commission on Recog- nition of Postsecondary Accreditation and the U.S. Department of Ed u ca tion. www.sierracollege.edu Rocklin Campus 5000 Rocklin Road Rocklin, California 95677 (916) 624-3333 Nevada County Campus 250 Sierra College Drive Grass Valley, California 95945 (530) 274-5300 Tahoe-Truckee Campus 10725 Pioneer Trail, Building A Truckee, California 96161 (530) 550-2225 Roseville Gateway Center 333 Sunrise Avenue Roseville, California 95661 (916) 781-6200 A Sierra College Publication Information in this catalog is subject to change as a result of new or revised curricula, laws, policies, or regulations. Contact the Office of Instruction for cat a log re vi sions, (916) 781-0536. Catalog Acknowledgments Kerrie Cassidy, Graphic Designer Tracy Shields, Editor and Coordinator Additional copies of this catalog may be purchased from Sierra College Bookstores. Please call (916) 781-0500 for further infor- mation. SIERRA COLLEGE CATALOG 8-9 3 Mission Statement Sierra Col lege provides a sup port ive learning environment to stu dents with diverse goals, abilities and needs. The College’s programs and services promote personal and professional success, leadership, MISSION STATEMENT MISSION crit i cal thinking, civic responsibility and innovation. Its students will be come contributing citizens of the complex and changing communities in which they live and work. To achieve this Mission, we adhere to the following Guiding Principles: Sierra College will • Recognize its role in the California Educational Master Plan • Model excellence in education • Provide the foundation for lifelong learning • Support diversity • Encourage the full development of human potential in a world of growth and change • Enhance the cultural, intellectual and recreational needs of the college and community • Foster environmental awareness and individual responsibility • Understand and contribute to the economic well-being of the com mu ni ty • Plan for and wisely allocate resources based on an annual, com pre hen sive, District-wide Program Assessment and Review (PAR) process. A† Sierra College, we facili†a†e learning, inspire change and buil∂ community. 4 SIERRA COLLEGE CATALOG 8-9 www.sierracollege.edu Table of Contents OF TABLE CONTENTS Mission Statement . 4 A.A. and A.S. Degree Programs . 44 A Brief History of Sierra College . 6 Certificate Programs . .45 Sierra College Calendar 2008–2009 . 8 Transferable Courses to CSU System . 46 General Information . 9 Transferable Courses to UC System . 48 Admission . 12 California State University . 49 Matriculation and Registration . 14 IGETC–Intersegmental . .50 Academic and Transfer Credit Programs . 18 California Articulation Numbers . 51 Student Enrollment . 21 Course Disciplines . .52 Academic Regulations . .22 Course Descriptions . 54 Petitions . 26 Students’ Rights and Responsibilities . 258 Student Services . .29 Academic Freedom Policy . 267 Financial Aid . 36 College Administration, Faculty and Staff . 268 Student Activities . 39 Advisory Committees . 284 Degree and Certificate Requirements . 41 Maps . 290 Associate Degree Requirements . .42 Index . 292 SIERRA COLLEGE CATALOG 8-9 5 A Brief History of Sierra College HISTORY The origin of Sierra College is somewhat uncertain. Some have said that the College may have begun with the establishment of Sierra Normal College and Business Institute in 1882. It was a small, private college at the location of today’s Placer High School in Auburn. Most think that Sierra College is an outgrowth of the Placer Union High School District. In 1914, the Placer Union High School District was born, stretching from Loomis to Lake Tahoe. That same year, college-level classes were offered. The new college was named Placer Junior College. It was the fourth old- 1940s est junior college in California at the time and only one of nine statewide; the faculty numbered four. were forced into internment camps. The student popula- Due to enrollment loss caused by World War I, Placer tion dropped to 53 by 1943. The college eliminated the Junior College was abandoned by 1920, but the college “Junior” from its name, becoming Placer College. idea never completely died. In 1936, the college was rees- The war’s end brought returning veterans, the end of tablished, again in Auburn, with the enthusiastic support internment, and the GI Bill of Rights. Enrollment in of local voters. It is 1936 that Sierra College uses as its the post-war years exploded as a result. 1946 saw 467 official date of birth. students—about half were veterans. 856 were enrolled Three wings of buildings were constructed to serve in 1949 and the Placer College facility was bursting at primarily Placer Junior College, but Placer High School the seams. The College had reached full capacity, and students shared many of the facilities, instructors and or- efforts to find a new college location began. Area popu- ganizational structure with the new college. Enrollment lation continued to grow and the need for new facilities numbered about 100 and the college athletes went by the grew acute. In 1953, Placer College was renamed Sierra name “Spartans.” The college grew steadily and by 1938, College and its athletes gained a new nickname—the 200 students were enrolled. “Wolverines.” Enrollment crested at 282 in 1939, but events quickly In 1957, the new Sierra Junior College District suc- overtook the college in the 1940s. The 1941 attack on cessfully passed a bond measure to pay for new facilities. Pearl Harbor essentially ended enrollment by men as In 1958, a site selection committee considered thirty- many went off to serve their country. Additionally, en- five possible locations and the present Rocklin site was rollment dropped significantly when Japanese-Americans chosen. 1950s 6 SIERRA COLLEGE CATALOG 8-9 www.sierracollege.edu HISTORY 1960s campus. In association with the City of Lincoln and others, Sierra College is a partner in a new regional library presently under construction in Lincoln. Projections of future “for credit” enrollment top 25,000. By 1961, the new Rocklin campus opened and enroll- The Sierra Community Col- ment reached 1,500. In 1962, Nevada County joined lege District includes all of Placer and Nevada Counties Placer County in forming a huge new Sierra Junior Col- and part of El Dorado and Sacramento Counties. In re- lege District, which then had more square miles—3,200— cent years, Placer and Nevada Counties have been two of than students. California’s fastest growing areas. Enrollment boomed in the 1960s. By the end of the The College District continues to experience dramatic decade, Sierra College boasted 100 full-time faculty growth and change. The future is bright as new technol- members and nine new campus buildings. Enrollment ogies evolve, offering greater educational accessibility for was nearly 4,000. However, as fast as new facilities could students—both today and tomorrow. be built, they were filled. The next several decades saw Since its first days, the promise of Sierra College has significant student population growth. From 1970 to been to facilitate learning, inspire change, and build 1990, enrollment jumped from 4,000 to nearly 14,000, community. The College continues this mission as it and, by the year 2000, the college enrolled approximately adapts to meet the ever-changing needs of students while 18,000 students. promoting learning as a lifelong process. In 1996, the 105-acre Nevada County Campus was opened. Twelve locations had been considered in that county until property between Grass Valley and Nevada City was chosen. Leased centers were opened in the Tahoe/Truckee and Roseville areas. Classes were also taught at local high schools and community centers. Recently passed bond issues provide for an expansion of the Nevada County Campus and the creation of a per- manent Tahoe-Truckee Campus. A new Mathematics and Technology building has been built on the Rocklin 1970s 1980s SIERRA COLLEGE CATALOG 8-9 7 Sierra College Calendar 2008–2009 ALENDAR C Fall Semester 2008 OLLEGE OLLEGE Aug. 25 INSTRUCTION BEGINS C Aug. 25–Sept. 6 Last Days to Apply, Register and Make Program Changes IERRA IERRA S Aug. 30-Sept. 1 Holiday (Labor Day) Sept. 8 First Census Day Sept. 19 Deadline to Initiate Credit By Examina- tion (Challenge) Sept. 26 Last Day to File CR/NC Oct. 1 Last Day to Request December 2008 Degree or Certificate Nov. 4 Last Day to Withdraw from Course and Receive a “W” Nov. 10 Holiday (Veteran’s Day) Nov. 27–29 Holiday (Thanksgiving) Dec. 13 Semester Ends Spring Semester 2009 Jan. 12 INSTRUCTION BEGINS Jan. 12–24 Last Days to Apply, Register and Make Program Changes Jan. 19 Holiday (Martin Luther King Day) Jan. 26 First Census Day Feb. 6 Deadline to Initiate Credit By Examina- tion (Challenge) Feb. 13–16 Holiday (Presidents’ Weekend) Feb.