College Catalog and Announcement of Courses Palo Verde College 2010-2011 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 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 3 FALL SEMESTER 2010 CALENDAR May 3 - May 7, 2010................................EOPS Priority Registration May 3 - May 7, 2010................................DSPS Priority Registration May 3 - May 7, 2010................................Veteran’s Registration May 3 - June 4, 2010..............................*Assessment Testing, 8:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m., Monday-Thursday, .................................................................10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m., Fridays May 3 - June 4, 2010..............................*Needles Assessment Testing, 10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m., .................................................................Monday-Friday (Closed May 31, 2010 and June 7-July 9, 2010) May 8 - August 27, 2010........................ *Open Registration July 12-July 29, 2010............................ *Needles Assessment Testing, 8:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m., Mon.-Thurs. July 26-August 27, 2010..........................*Assessment Testing, 8:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m., Monday-Thursday, .................................................................10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m., Fridays August 5, 2010....................................... *EOPS Orientation, 1:30 p.m. August 10, 2010......................................*EOPS Orientation, 9:00 a.m. August 11, 2010.......................................*New Student Orientation, 9:00 a.m. August 12, 2010.......................................*Needles New Student Orientation, 1:00 p.m. August 12, 2010.......................................CARE/CalWORKs Orientation, 10:00 a.m. August 13, 2010........................................Institute Day - No Classes August 16, 2010.......................................Classes Begin August 18, 2010...................................... *New Student Orientation, Make-Up, 5:30 p.m. August 23, 2010..................................... Last Day to Petition Co/Prerequisite Challenge Form August 24, 2010.......................................*Needles Orientation, Make-Up, 5:30 p.m. August 27, 2010.......................................Last Day to Register August 27, 2010.......................................Last Day to Apply for a Refund September 3, 2010...................................Last Day to Withdraw without a “W” on Permanent Record September 6, 2010...................................Labor Day Holiday - Campus Closed September 21, 2010.................................Spring Street Orientation, 5:30 p.m. September 21, 2010................................Last Day to Elect P/NP Grading Option September 22, 2010................................Spring Street Orientation, 9:00 a.m. October 1, 2010...................................... Flex Day November 11, 2010..................................Veteran’s Day - Campus Closed November 16, 2010..................................Flex Day/Career Day November 19, 2010..................................Last Day to Withdraw with a “W” on Permanent Record November 25-26, 2010.............................Thanksgiving Break - Campus Closed December 13-17, 2010.............................Finals Week December 17, 2010..................................Last Day of Classes *Assesment testing is mandatory for new students 4 SPRING SEMESTER 2011 CALENDAR November 30 - December 16, 2010........*Assessment Testing, 8:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m., Monday-Thursday, .................................................................10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m., Fridays December 3 - December 9, 2010.............Veteran’s, DSPS & EOPS Priority Registration December 7, 2010...................................*EOPS Orientation, 1:30 p.m. December 10, 2010 - January 28, 2011...*Open Registration December 22, 2010 - January 2, 2011.....Christmas Break - Campus Closed January 6, 2011....................................... *EOPS Orientation, 10:00 a.m. January 6, 2011........................................CARE/CalWORKs Orientation, 11:00 a.m. January 11, 2011..................................... .*Needles Orientation, 6:00 p.m. January 12, 2011.......................................*New Student and DSPS Orientation, 9:00 a.m. January 17, 2011..................................... Martin Luther King, Jr. Day - Campus Closed January 18, 2011......................................Classes Begin January 18-28, 2011................................*Assessment Testing, 8:00 a.m. - 6:30 p.m., Monday-Thursday .................................................................10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m., Fridays January 20, 2011.....................................*New Student and DSPS Orientation - Make Up, 6:00 p.m. January 21, 2011.....................................*Last day to Petition - Co/Prerequisite Challenge Form January 25, 2011.................................... Needles Make-Up Orientation, 5:30 p.m. January 28, 2011.....................................Last Day to Register January 31, 2011.....................................Last Day to Apply for a Refund February 4, 2011.....................................Last Day to Withdraw without a “W” on Permanent Record February 11, 2011...................................Flex Day February 15, 2011...................................Spring Street Orientation, 9:00 a.m. February 18, 2011...................................Lincoln Day - Campus Closed February 21, 2011...................................Washington Day - Campus Closed February 23, 2011...................................Spring Street Orientation, 5:30 p.m. February 23, 2011...................................Last Day to Elect P/NP Grading Option March 4, 2011.........................................Last Day to Petition to Graduate March 28-April 1, 2011............................Spring Break - Campus Closed April 21, 2011..........................................Flex Day April 22, 2011...........................................Good Friday/Easter Sunday - Campus Closed April 27, 2011...........................................Last Day to Withdraw with a “W” on Permanent Record May 30, 2011...........................................Memorial Day - Campus Closed May 31-June 3, 2011...............................Finals Week June 3, 2011............................................Last Day of Classes June 4, 2011........................................... 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 Fees and Expenses/Tuition.........................................................................................................................20