Ventura College

Ventura College is a public community college in Ventura, California. Established in 1925, the college has a 112-acre (45 ha) campus with an enrollment of 13,763 students. It is part of the Ventura County Community College District.

Not to be confused with Ventura College of Law.
Ventura College
TypePublic community college
Established1925
Parent institution
Ventura County Community College District
Endowment$1.1 million (2011/2012)[1]
PresidentDavid Keebler[2]
Academic staff
141 full-time faculty (Fall 2011)
Students13,737 [2012][3]
Location
Ventura
,
California
,
United States
Campus112 acres (45 ha)
AthleticsCCCAA – WSC,
SCFA (football)
NicknamePirates
Websitewww.venturacollege.edu

History

Ventura College was established as the first college in Ventura County in 1925, when a junior college department was added at Ventura Union High School. In 1929, the Ventura High School District adopted the four-four plan of secondary education, providing four years of junior high school (grades 7-10) and four years of high school/junior college (grades 11-14). The next year, Ventura Junior College, as the senior four-year school was then known, was moved to a new campus at Main and Catalina Streets in Ventura, the present location of Ventura High School.

In 1952, responding to recommendations from a commissioned study concerning population growth and building needs, the Ventura High School District adopted a 3-3-2 organization, with three years of junior high school (grades 7-9), three years of high school (grades 10-12) and two years of higher education. Ventura Junior College became Ventura College, a two-year institution for the freshman and sophomore years of college.

In 1955, the college moved to its present 112 acres (45 ha) hillside campus at 4667 Telegraph Road in the eastern part of Ventura – so close to the ocean that there is a clear view of the Channel Islands from several spots on campus. In 1962, the voters of Ventura County authorized the formation of a community college district separate from any other public school entity.

In 1974, the college began offering classes in Fillmore to serve the Santa Clara River Valley's predominantly Hispanic population. In 1980, the East Campus (then known as the Santa Paula Vocational Center) moved to its current location on Dean Drive in Santa Paula. In addition to the East Campus, Ventura College currently utilizes classrooms at Fillmore High School, and occasionally uses the facilities at other community locations.

Ventura County voters went to the polls in March 2002 and voted to authorize a $356 million general obligation bond to renovate and expand all three campuses and the district training facilities for police, fire, and sheriff's officers. The first Ventura College building constructed using bond funds was the Library and Learning Resources Center, which opened in January 2005. The remodeled Student Services Center opened in April 2008, and the Sportsplex in 2009. The Advanced Technology Center, General Purposes Classroom Building and the Health Sciences Center buildings are currently under construction, as is the training facility for sheriff officers. The Performing Arts Complex and the buildings housing the college's technical programs are also currently under renovation.

Ventura College serves a diverse student body through both credit and non-credit offerings. The college offers associate of arts or associate of science degrees in thirty-three majors. Students are also able to obtain an associate of arts degree in general studies, using one of three patterns to obtain the required units. In addition, the college offers certificates of achievement in thirty-five career and technical education fields, and proficiency awards in twenty-six fields. The college's Community Education program offers hundreds of classes three times a year to those interested in learning about music, dance, writing, fitness, cooking, financial planning, languages and a myriad of other topics in a non-competitive, not-for-credit environment.

The Ventura County Community College District has grown to include two additional colleges, Moorpark College and Oxnard College, collectively serving more than 36,000 students per semester. The District Administrative Center offices are located on Stanley Avenue in Ventura.

Student life

While attending Ventura College, students can participate in their student government, which at Ventura College is called ASVC. The Associated Students of Ventura College (ASVC) assumes responsibility for coordinating student activities and expressing student concerns, interests, and viewpoints to the administration and college community. Students can participate in more than 17 clubs related to their various interests, ethnic background, and majors, and 19 intercollegiate athletic teams and spirit. Ventura College also provides a MESA (Mathematics, Engineering, Science Achievement) program, which serves first generation, low income students who major in STEM.

Athletics

Ventura's athletic teams are nicknamed the Pirates. The college currently sponsors nine men’s and ten women’s varsity teams. Ventura College competes as a member of the California Community College Athletic Association (CCCAA) in the Western State Conference (WSC) for all sports except football, which competes in Southern California Football Association (SCFA).[4]

Notable alumni
  • Ventura College administration building
  • The new Library and Learning Resource Center
  • Guthrie Hall

References
  1. College foundations differ widely in how much they raise, what they spend » Ventura County Star
  2. https://www.vcstar.com/story/news/education/2017/07/07/business-official-named-interim-president-ventura-college/456070001/
  3. California Community Colleges Chancellor's Office - Data Mart
  4. "2019-20 CCCAA Directory" (PDF). California Community College Athletic Association. Retrieved 15 April 2020.
  5. "Chris Beal UFC Profile". Retrieved 2014-01-01.
  6. https://www.hoopshall.com/hall-of-fame/elmer-mccall/?query=name.eq.Elmer%20McCall&xsearch_id=HallofFame2_Last_Name&xsearch[0]=Elmer%20McCall&back=HallofFame2
  7. https://depauwtigers.com/sports/mbkb/2002-03/releases/2003_01_16_former-depauw-coach-elmer-mccall-state.html
  8. Romine, Rich (June 28, 2007). "Sun makes basketball camp exciting at Ventura College". Ventura County Star. Retrieved 14 May 2016.
  9. HAMILTON, MATT; QUEALLY, JAMES; LIVINGSTON, MICHAEL (February 16, 2018). "Who is the California man who just pleaded guilty to unwittingly aiding Russian interference in the 2016 election". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 17 February 2018.
  10. Nicholas Fandos (2018-02-16). "Russians Bought Bank Accounts From California Man, Mueller Says". The New York Times. Retrieved 2018-02-17.
  11. Diskin, Megan (February 16, 2018). "Santa Paula man pleads guilty to role in helping Russians to meddle in 2016 election". Ventura County Star. Retrieved 18 February 2018.

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