College Catalog and Announcement of Courses Palo Verde College 2011-2012 A California Public Community College Accredited by The Western Association of Schools and Colleges One College Drive Blythe, California 92225 (760) 921-5500 www.paloverde.edu 1 NOTICE TO STUDENTS The trustees, faculty, staff, and administration of Palo Verde College welcome and congratulate you on your decision to accept the challenge to further your education. This catalog is a guide to this college and the educational programs it offers. The catalog contains rules and regulations which govern this college and you, the student. It is your obligation to become familiar with its contents. It has been prepared with your success in mind. The staff has made every effort to ascertain that the information contained in this catalog is accurate; however, the trustees and administrators of this college reserve the right to modify its programs, tuition and fees, procedures and regulations, and other matters that may be within their control, not withstanding any information set forth in this catalog. The Student Services Offi ce will provide you with the latest information on student admissions, standards, and program availability. Students maintaining continuous attendance at Palo Verde College have “catalog rights” in their choice of regulations determining graduation requirements. By maintaining attendance, students may use the requirements in effect at either the time they begin their studies at Palo Verde College, or the time they graduate from Palo Verde College. Maintaining attendance is defi ned as successfully completing at least one credit course in each calendar year, or not having a break in attendance for more than two (2) successive semesters, excluding summer sessions. It is the student’s responsibility to indicate which catalog he/she elects to follow at the time he/she submits the graduation petition. 2 WELCOME FROM THE PRESIDENT Welcome to Palo Verde College. Palo Verde College is a comprehensive community college. We have programs to help you succeed in whatever your fi nal educational goal may be. Palo Verde College is a unique institution. It has the programs found at a truly comprehensive community college; yet, it is a small institution that affords its students all the benefi ts of the intimate atmosphere students enjoy at a small campus. All of our classes are small, so you have a chance to work closely with highly qualifi ed professors. Because we are a small college, student services such as fi nancial aid and tutoring are readily available to you. As a student here, you will be able to know your professors, counselors and other students. Whatever your dreams are, this catalog is an invitation to explore the opportunities available at Palo Verde College. JAMES W. HOTTOIS, Ph.D. Superintendent/President 3 FALL SEMESTER 2011 CALENDAR May 2 - May 6, 2011................................EOPS Priority Registration May 2 - May 6, 2011................................DSPS Priority Registration May 2 - May 6, 2011...............................Veteran’s Registration May 2 - June 3, 2011..............................*Assessment Testing, 8:30 a.m. - 6:00 p.m., Monday-Thursday, .................................................................10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m., Fridays May 9 - August 26, 2011........................ *Open Registration August 1 - August 25, 2011.................... *Needles Assessment Testing, 8:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m., Mon.-Thurs. July 25-August 25, 2011..........................*Assessment Testing, 8:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m., Monday-Thursday, August 12, 19, 26, 2011...........................10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m., Fridays August 4, 2011........................................ *EOPS Orientation, 1:30 p.m. August 9, 2011.........................................*EOPS Orientation, 9:00 a.m. August 10, 2011.......................................*New Student Orientation, 9:00 a.m. August 11, 2011......................................*Needles New Student Orientation, 1:00 p.m. August 11, 2011........................................CARE/CalWORKs Orientation, 10:00 a.m. August 15, 2011........................................Institute Day - No Classes August 16, 2011........................................Classes Begin August 17, 2011....................................... *New Student Orientation, Make-Up, 5:30 p.m. August 19, 2011..................................... Last Day to Petition Co/Prerequisite Challenge Form August 24, 2011.......................................*Needles Orientation, Make-Up, 5:30 p.m. August 26, 2011........................................Last Day to Register August 29, 2011........................................Last Day to Apply for a Refund September 2, 2011....................................Last Day to Withdraw without a “W” on Permanent Record September 5, 2011....................................Labor Day Holiday - Campus Closed September 21, 2011..................................Last Day to Elect P/NP Grading Option October 7, 2011........................................ Flex Day November 11, 2011...................................Veteran’s Day - Campus Closed November 15, 2011...................................Flex Day/Career Day November 15, 2011...................................Last Day to Withdraw with a “W” on Permanent Record November 24-25, 2011..............................Thanksgiving Break - Campus Closed December 12-16, 2011..............................Finals Week December 16, 2011...................................Last Day of Classes *Assesment testing is mandatory for new students 4 SPRING SEMESTER 2012 CALENDAR November 28 - December 21, 2011...............*Assessment Testing, 10:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m., Tuesday -Thursday (or by special appointment) December 1 - December 6, 2011.....................Veteran’s, DSPS, EOPS & Foster Youth/Former Foster Youth Priority Registration December 7, 2011...........................................*EOPS Orientation, 1:30 p.m. December 7, 2011 - January 27, 2012............*Open Registration December 22, 2011 - January 2, 2012.............Christmas Break - Campus Closed January 5, 2012.............................................. *EOPS Orientation, 9:00 a.m. January 5, 2012...............................................CARE/CalWORKs Orientation, 11:00 a.m. January 11, 2012..............................................*New Student and DSPS Orientation, 9:00 a.m. January 12, 2012..............................................*Needles Orientation, 6:00 p.m. January 16, 2012............................................. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day - Campus Closed January 17, 2012..............................................Classes Begin January 4 - 27, 2012.........................................*Assessment Testing, 10:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m., Tuesday -Thursday (or by special appointment) January 19, 2012..............................................*New Student and DSPS Orientation - Make Up, 5:00 p.m. January 20, 2012..............................................*Last day to Petition - Co/Prerequisite Challenge Form January 26, 2012............................................. Needles Make-Up Orientation, 5:30 p.m. January 27, 2012..............................................Last Day to Register January 30, 2012..............................................Last Day to Apply for a Refund February 3, 2012...............................................Last Day to Withdraw without a “W” on Permanent Record February 3, 2012...............................................Flex Day February 10, 2012.............................................Lincoln Day - Campus Closed February 20, 2012.............................................Washington Day - Campus Closed February 24, 2012.............................................Last Day to Elect P/NP Grading Option March 2, 2012....................................................Last Day to Petition to Graduate March 30 - April 6, 2012....................................Spring Break - Campus Closed April 6, 2012......................................................Good Friday/Easter Sunday - Campus Closed April 20, 2012.....................................................Flex Day May 1, 2012.......................................................Last Day to Withdraw with a “W” on Permanent Record May 28, 2012.....................................................Memorial Day - Campus Closed May 28 - June 1, 2012.......................................Finals Week June 1, 2012......................................................Last Day of Classes June 2, 2012..................................................... Graduation/Institute Day *Assesment testing is mandatory for new students 5 TABLE OF CONTENTS BOARD OF TRUSTEES AND PALO VERDE COLLEGE FOUNDATION Board of Trustees and Palo Verde College Foundation...............................................................................7 GENERAL INFORMATION General Information.....................................................................................................................................8 GLOSSARY OF TERMS Glossary of Terms ....................................................................................................................................11 COLLEGE DIRECTORY Directory of Services....................................................................................................................................14 STUDENT SERVICES Admissions Procedures..............................................................................................................................17