Antelope Valley College
Encyclopedia
Antelope Valley College (AVC) is a comprehensive community college
located in Lancaster, California
, USA
. It is operated by the Antelope Valley Community College District
, with a primary service area of 1945 square miles (5,037.5 km²) covering portions of Los Angeles and Kern counties. Instruction is offered at multiple sites, including Palmdale and Lancaster, as well as through online and instructional television courses.
The college offers Associate in Arts/Associate in Science (two-year) degrees in 71 fields, as well as certificate programs in 59 vocational areas.
The main campus in Lancaster hosts a satellite location of California State University, Bakersfield-Antelope Valley (CSUB-AV), where students can obtain bachelor's and master's degrees in select subjects.
in Lancaster. It was established as Antelope Valley Junior College, providing the first two years of a college education for those living in what was then a remote, rural area. (The college name was later modified to Antelope Valley College to reflect the comprehensive nature of the college.) The average daily attendance at the college was 13, during the 1929-30 school year.
There was little growth in enrollment at the college during the depression years that followed. Alfalfa farmers in Antelope Valley were hard hit during the 1930s, and the smallest junior college in California suffered serious financial difficulties. Teachers took a 20 percent cut in salaries, which ranged from a state-mandated minimum of $1,350 a year to a $1,595 maximum.
Average daily attendance (ADA) at the college reached 100 by 1939, but with orld War II|, attendance plummeted. Attendance reached a low of 13 during the war, the same ADA as the year the school was founded.
There were pressures to close the junior college, but trustees and staff held out until veterans returned from the war. Enrollment grew steadily during the postwar years, partly because of the GI Bill of Rights and partly because Antelope Valley began developing an aircraft industry.
In 1959, groundbreaking was held for a new college campus on 110 acres (44.5 ha) at Avenue K and 30th Street West.
The college has expanded the campus size to approximately 135 acres (54.6 ha) through land purchases.
The college also maintains a temporary leased site in the City of Palmdale
, which currently serves nearly 2,000 students. Plans call for creation of a full campus on 60 acres (24.3 ha) of land in southern Palmdale on 25th Street East, south of Avenue S. College officials are working toward a sustainable enrollment of 1,000 full-time equivalent students (FTES) to qualify Palmdale for center status—a key step in developing a permanent campus. Officials in April 2009 expressed their intent to submit an initial project proposal for a campus to the state in June 2010.
Antelope Valley College is accredited by the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges of the Western Association of Schools and Colleges.
Among the many programs through the college are an associate degree program in registered nursing approved by the Board of Registered Nursing, an airframe and powerplant technician program certified by the Federal Aviation Administration
, and a lower division engineering program that coordinates with an engineering degree program offered locally through California State University, Fresno. Other programs include aircraft fabrication and assembly (including composite materials), computer graphics, respiratory therapy, Firefighter I Academy and wildland fire technology.
In conjunction with the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department, the Lancaster campus hosts the Sheriff's Training Academy at Antelope Valley College, which meets the requirements of the Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) for training members of the sheriff's department and other law enforcement agencies.
The community college district is governed by a locally-elected Board of Trustees consisting of five members serving four-year terms, plus a student trustee elected annually by members of the student body.
Community colleges in the United States
In the United States, community colleges are primarily two-year public institutions of higher education and were once commonly called junior colleges....
located in Lancaster, California
Lancaster, California
Lancaster is a charter city in northern Los Angeles County, in the high desert, near the Kern County line. Lancaster currently ranks as the 30th largest city in California, and the 148th largest city in the United States. Lancaster is the principal city within the Antelope Valley...
, USA
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. It is operated by the Antelope Valley Community College District
Antelope Valley Community College District
The Antelope Valley Community College District is the local college district serving Palmdale and Lancaster in California's Antelope Valley. The college is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges.- About the AVCCD :...
, with a primary service area of 1945 square miles (5,037.5 km²) covering portions of Los Angeles and Kern counties. Instruction is offered at multiple sites, including Palmdale and Lancaster, as well as through online and instructional television courses.
The college offers Associate in Arts/Associate in Science (two-year) degrees in 71 fields, as well as certificate programs in 59 vocational areas.
The main campus in Lancaster hosts a satellite location of California State University, Bakersfield-Antelope Valley (CSUB-AV), where students can obtain bachelor's and master's degrees in select subjects.
History
The institution began classes September 10, 1929 as a department of Antelope Valley High SchoolAntelope Valley High School
Antelope Valley High School is located in Lancaster, California, and is part of the Antelope Valley Union High School District, in northernmost Los Angeles County, California. It was founded in 1912. It is located near the western edge of the Mojave Desert...
in Lancaster. It was established as Antelope Valley Junior College, providing the first two years of a college education for those living in what was then a remote, rural area. (The college name was later modified to Antelope Valley College to reflect the comprehensive nature of the college.) The average daily attendance at the college was 13, during the 1929-30 school year.
There was little growth in enrollment at the college during the depression years that followed. Alfalfa farmers in Antelope Valley were hard hit during the 1930s, and the smallest junior college in California suffered serious financial difficulties. Teachers took a 20 percent cut in salaries, which ranged from a state-mandated minimum of $1,350 a year to a $1,595 maximum.
Average daily attendance (ADA) at the college reached 100 by 1939, but with orld War II|, attendance plummeted. Attendance reached a low of 13 during the war, the same ADA as the year the school was founded.
There were pressures to close the junior college, but trustees and staff held out until veterans returned from the war. Enrollment grew steadily during the postwar years, partly because of the GI Bill of Rights and partly because Antelope Valley began developing an aircraft industry.
In 1959, groundbreaking was held for a new college campus on 110 acres (44.5 ha) at Avenue K and 30th Street West.
The college has expanded the campus size to approximately 135 acres (54.6 ha) through land purchases.
Today
Antelope Valley College today has grown to a student population of approximately 16,000 students. It serves as the largest and primary source of higher education in the region.The college also maintains a temporary leased site in the City of Palmdale
Palmdale, California
Palmdale is a city located in the center of northern Los Angeles County, California, United States.Palmdale was the first community within the Antelope Valley to incorporate as a city on August 24, 1962; 47 years later, voters approved creating a charter city in November, 2009. Palmdale is...
, which currently serves nearly 2,000 students. Plans call for creation of a full campus on 60 acres (24.3 ha) of land in southern Palmdale on 25th Street East, south of Avenue S. College officials are working toward a sustainable enrollment of 1,000 full-time equivalent students (FTES) to qualify Palmdale for center status—a key step in developing a permanent campus. Officials in April 2009 expressed their intent to submit an initial project proposal for a campus to the state in June 2010.
Antelope Valley College is accredited by the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges of the Western Association of Schools and Colleges.
Among the many programs through the college are an associate degree program in registered nursing approved by the Board of Registered Nursing, an airframe and powerplant technician program certified by the Federal Aviation Administration
Federal Aviation Administration
The Federal Aviation Administration is the national aviation authority of the United States. An agency of the United States Department of Transportation, it has authority to regulate and oversee all aspects of civil aviation in the U.S...
, and a lower division engineering program that coordinates with an engineering degree program offered locally through California State University, Fresno. Other programs include aircraft fabrication and assembly (including composite materials), computer graphics, respiratory therapy, Firefighter I Academy and wildland fire technology.
In conjunction with the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department, the Lancaster campus hosts the Sheriff's Training Academy at Antelope Valley College, which meets the requirements of the Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) for training members of the sheriff's department and other law enforcement agencies.
The community college district is governed by a locally-elected Board of Trustees consisting of five members serving four-year terms, plus a student trustee elected annually by members of the student body.
Notable alumni
- Kevin AppierKevin AppierRobert Kevin Appier is a former right-handed Major League Baseball pitcher who played for the Kansas City Royals, Oakland Athletics, New York Mets, and Anaheim Angels.-Kansas City Royals:...
, former Kansas City Royals/Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim pitcher. - Jim BruskeJim BruskeJames Scott Bruske is a former Major League Baseball right-handed pitcher for the Los Angeles Dodgers, San Diego Padres, New York Yankees and Milwaukee Brewers from 1995-2000.-External links:...
, former pitcher, Los Angeles Dodgers and San Diego Padres, among others. - DeAndra CobbDeAndra CobbDeAndra' Cobb is a professional American and Canadian football running back who is currently a free agent. He last played for the Montreal Alouettes of the Canadian Football League. He was drafted by the Atlanta Falcons in the sixth round of the 2005 NFL Draft...
, former running back, Hamilton Tiger-Cats, Canadian Football League. - Dave CoxDave CoxDavid E. Cox was an American politician from Holdenville, Oklahoma. A Republican, he served as a California State Senator, representing the 1st district from December 2004 until his death in July 2010, and also served as an California State Assemblyman for the six years immediately before his...
, California State Senator, 1st District. - Kevin CurtisKevin Curtis-St. Louis Rams:Curtis was drafted by the St. Louis Rams in the 3rd round of the 2003 NFL Draft. Curtis was inactive for the first five games of 2003 after suffering a broken fibula in the final preseason game at Buffalo. In 2004, Curtis played in all but one game, totaling 32 catches for 421...
, Founder and Chief Technology Officer, InPhase Technologies. - Larry S. Dickenson, Senior Vice President, The Boeing Company.
- Frank JacksonFrank JacksonFrank Jackson is the name of:* John Jackson , full name Frank John Jackson, British Conservative Member of Parliament 1959–1964...
, Associate Justice, Court of Appeal, Second Appellate District. - James C. Ledford Jr., Mayor, City of Palmdale, California.
- Rex Parris, Attorney and Mayor, City of Lancaster, California.
- Tony ReedTony ReedTony Reed was an American college and professional football player. A star at Colorado, he played five professional seasons as a running back from 1977-1981. When he was in Kansas City he wore number 32. Rushing the ball his stats were 2,340 total rushing yards 8 rushing Touchdowns. Receiving...
, former running back, Kansas City Chiefs, Denver Broncos. - Kay RyanKay RyanKay Ryan is an American poet and educator. She has published seven volumes of poetry and an anthology of selected and new poems. Ryan was the sixteenth United States Poet Laureate, from 2008 to 2010...
, Poet Laureate, Library of Congress, July 2008-Present. - Jim SlatonJim SlatonJames Michael Slaton was a pitcher with a 16 year career from 1971-1986. He played in the American League with the Milwaukee Brewers from 1971–1977 and 1979–1983, the Detroit Tigers in 1978 and 1986, and the California Angels from 1984-1986.Slaton played high school baseball at Antelope Valley...
, former Milwaukee BrewersMilwaukee BrewersThe Milwaukee Brewers are a professional baseball team based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, currently playing in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
pitcher, bullpen coach, Seattle MarinersSeattle MarinersThe Seattle Mariners are a professional baseball team based in Seattle, Washington. Enfranchised in , the Mariners are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Safeco Field has been the Mariners' home ballpark since July...
, current pitching coach of the Los Angeles DodgersLos Angeles DodgersThe Los Angeles Dodgers are a professional baseball team based in Los Angeles, California. The Dodgers are members of Major League Baseball's National League West Division. Established in 1883, the team originated in Brooklyn, New York, where it was known by a number of nicknames before becoming...
AAA affiliate Albuquerque IsotopesAlbuquerque IsotopesThe Albuquerque Isotopes are a minor league baseball team based in Albuquerque, New Mexico. The team, which plays in the Pacific Coast League, is the Triple-A affiliate of the Los Angeles Dodgers...
.