Sierra College

Infobox University
name = Sierra College
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image_size = 375px
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established = 1936
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type = Public Community College
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chancellor =
president = Dr. Leo E. Chavez
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students = 17,000
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postgrad =
doctoral =
other = 20,000 (noncredit)
city = Rocklin
state = California
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country = United States of America
coor = coord|38.788637|-121.209496|display=inline,title|type:edu
campus = Suburban
former_names = Placer College
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free =
sports = Track, water polo, curling, baseball, Men's Basketball, Women's basketball, cheer, cross country, football, golf, soccer, softball, swimming, tennis, volleyball, water polo, wrestling
colors = Cardinal and White Colorsample|#CC2233Colorsample|White
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mascot = Wolverines
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website = http://www.sierracollege.edu/

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Sierra College, a California community college, has its main campus located in Rocklin, California. Rocklin is located in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada Mountains, approximately twenty minutes from the state capital of Sacramento and convert|100|mi|km east of San Francisco. The campus lies within the watershed of Secret Ravine, a site of mining operations during the California Gold Rush. In addition to the convert|300|acre|km2|sing=on Rocklin campus, the District has a convert|115|acre|km2|sing=on campus in Grass Valley which is in neighboring Nevada County, a campus center in Truckee, and a campus center in Roseville. The Sierra Community College District, a district that covers over convert|3200|sqmi|km2, serves Placer, Nevada and parts of El Dorado and Sacramento counties.

Origins

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, California. The College was officially founded in 1936 and is fully accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges. The main campus in Rocklin was built in 1962. It is governed by a Board of seven trustees who are elected District wide and a student trustee. The constituent groups within the District – Trustees, Faculty, Students, Management and Classified Staff – are committed to the principle of shared governance for assuring broad and deep participation in all decisions critical to the College and District. Only five individuals have held the post of President in the last 50 years.

Classes Offered

Approximately 125 degree and certificate programs are offered in a wide variety of configurations taught by 750 full and part-time faculty members. Faculty typically has the minimum of a Master’s degree in their fields and enhance their teaching with research, authorship and industry expertise. Classes are offered both in traditional "on-ground" classrooms and, increasingly, in an online format.

Health Center

Sierra College has the first nationally accredited community college student health center.

Recognition

Sierra College is in the top 1% of United States community colleges in awarding Associate Degrees, first in California, and is first in Northern California's Central Valley in transfers to the University of California and California State University systems. Its transfer students perform as well or better as native students at the UC and CSU systems.

Other Information

* Current credit enrollment at Sierra College Rocklin Campus is approximately 20,000 students.

* The Sierra College mascot is the Wolverine. Sierra College participates in the Big 7 Conference, a member of the Community College League of California's Commission on Athletics.

Notable People

* Elmo Daley (1911-2007) emeritus faculty, author of "Islands of My Inland Seas."
* Bill Hotchkiss (faculty), poet and novelist, author of "Medicine Calf", based on the life of Jim Beckwourth.
* Hans Ostrom, writer and professor.
* Stevie Scott, American Idol (season 5) contestant.
* George Sessions, emeritus faculty, editor of "Deep Ecology for the 21st Century."
* Heather Rene Smith - Playboy Playmate of the Month (February 2007)
* James LeVoy Sorenson, inventor and entrepreneur.

External links

* [http://www.sierracollege.edu Sierra College Website]
* [http://lrc.sierracollege.edu Sierra College Library - 2 branches]