Sierra College
Encyclopedia
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 105 miles (169 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 300 acres (1.2 km²) Rocklin campus, the District has a 115 acre (0.4653889 km²) 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 3200 square miles (8,288 km²), serves Placer
, Nevada
and parts of El Dorado
and Sacramento
counties.
in Auburn, California
, was later formed into Sierra College. It is commonly thought, however, that Sierra College is the outgrowth of the Placer Union High School District.
The College was officially founded in 1936 and is fully accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges. This is the date that the school uses as the official establishment, even though it had been operating under various names and places before this. It was established as "Placer Junior College". In 1954 the college was renamed "Sierra College" with a wolverine
as the mascot. The main campus in Rocklin was chosen by 1960, out 35 possible sites. The planned construction of Interstate 80
was a consideration in the decision making. In 1961 the new campus opened.
In 1996 another campus in Nevada County
opened, in between Grass Valley and Nevada City. During 2000-2005, outreach campuses in Roseville and near Truckee were opened.
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.
Rocklin, California
Rocklin is a city in Placer County, California located in the metropolitan area of Sacramento. It shares borders with Roseville, Loomis, and Lincoln...
. Rocklin is located in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada Mountains, approximately twenty minutes from the state capital of Sacramento
Sacramento
Sacramento is the capital of the state of California, in the United States of America.Sacramento may also refer to:- United States :*Sacramento County, California*Sacramento, Kentucky*Sacramento – San Joaquin River Delta...
and 105 miles (169 km) east of San Francisco. The campus lies within the watershed of Secret Ravine
Secret Ravine
Secret Ravine is a perennial tributary of Miners Ravine which shortly thereafter runs into Dry Creek located in Placer County, California. Its course lies within the cities of Rocklin, Loomis, and Roseville, as well as unincorporated parts of Placer County. It passes through the campus of Sierra...
, a site of mining operations during the California Gold Rush
California Gold Rush
The California Gold Rush began on January 24, 1848, when gold was found by James W. Marshall at Sutter's Mill in Coloma, California. The first to hear confirmed information of the gold rush were the people in Oregon, the Sandwich Islands , and Latin America, who were the first to start flocking to...
. In addition to the 300 acres (1.2 km²) Rocklin campus, the District has a 115 acre (0.4653889 km²) campus in Grass Valley
Grass Valley, California
-2010:The 2010 United States Census reported that Grass Valley had a population of 12,860. The population density was 2,711.3 people per square mile . The racial makeup of Grass Valley was 11,493 White, 46 African American, 208 Native American, 188 Asian, 9 Pacific Islander, 419 from other...
which is in neighboring Nevada County
Nevada County, California
Nevada County is a county located in the Sierra Nevada of California, in the Mother Lode country. As of 2010 its population was 98,764. The county seat is Nevada City.-History:Nevada County was created in 1851 from parts of Yuba County....
, a campus center in Truckee
Truckee, California
Truckee is an incorporated town in Nevada County, California, United States. The population was 16,180 at the 2010 census, up from 13,864 at the 2000 census.-Name:...
, and a campus center in Roseville
Roseville, California
-2010:The 2010 United States Census reported that Roseville had a population of 118,788. The population density was 3,279.4 people per square mile...
. The Sierra Community College District, a district that covers over 3200 square miles (8,288 km²), serves Placer
Placer County, California
Placer County is a county located in both the Sacramento Valley and Sierra Nevada regions of the U.S. state of California, in what is known as the Gold Country. It stretches from the suburbs of Sacramento to Lake Tahoe and the Nevada border. Because of the expansion of the Greater Sacramento,...
, Nevada
Nevada County, California
Nevada County is a county located in the Sierra Nevada of California, in the Mother Lode country. As of 2010 its population was 98,764. The county seat is Nevada City.-History:Nevada County was created in 1851 from parts of Yuba County....
and parts of El Dorado
El Dorado County, California
El Dorado County is a county located in the historic Gold Country in the Sierra Nevada Mountains and foothills of the U.S. state of California. The 2010 population was 181,058. The El Dorado county seat is in Placerville....
and Sacramento
Sacramento County, California
Sacramento County is a county in the U.S. state of California. Its county seat is Sacramento, which is also the state capital. As of 2010 the county had a population of 1,418,788....
counties.
Origins
Sierra College's origin is unclear. Some say the establishment of the Sierra Normal College and Business Institute in 1882, a small, private college at the location of today’s Placer High SchoolPlacer High School
Placer High School is a public high school located in Auburn, California and is part of the Placer Union High School District. Auburn is located northeast of Sacramento, California, in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada Mountains.-History, 1897 to 1906:...
in Auburn, California
Auburn, California
Auburn is the county seat of Placer County, California. Its population at the 2010 census was 13,330. Auburn is known for its California Gold Rush history.Auburn is part of the Greater Sacramento area.- History :...
, was later formed into Sierra College. It is commonly thought, however, that Sierra College is the outgrowth of the Placer Union High School District.
The College was officially founded in 1936 and is fully accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges. This is the date that the school uses as the official establishment, even though it had been operating under various names and places before this. It was established as "Placer Junior College". In 1954 the college was renamed "Sierra College" with a wolverine
Wolverine
The wolverine, pronounced , Gulo gulo , also referred to as glutton, carcajou, skunk bear, or quickhatch, is the largest land-dwelling species of the family Mustelidae . It is a stocky and muscular carnivore, more closely resembling a small bear than other mustelids...
as the mascot. The main campus in Rocklin was chosen by 1960, out 35 possible sites. The planned construction of Interstate 80
Interstate 80
Interstate 80 is the second-longest Interstate Highway in the United States, following Interstate 90. It is a transcontinental artery running from downtown San Francisco, California to Teaneck, New Jersey in the New York City Metropolitan Area...
was a consideration in the decision making. In 1961 the new campus opened.
In 1996 another campus in Nevada County
Nevada County, California
Nevada County is a county located in the Sierra Nevada of California, in the Mother Lode country. As of 2010 its population was 98,764. The county seat is Nevada City.-History:Nevada County was created in 1851 from parts of Yuba County....
opened, in between Grass Valley and Nevada City. During 2000-2005, outreach campuses in Roseville and near Truckee were opened.
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 as or better than 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 OstromHans OstromHans Ansgar Ostrom is an American professor, writer, editor, and scholar.-Life:Ostrom was born in 1954 in Grass Valley, California. He grew up in the High Sierra town of Sierra City, population 225. His father was a carpenter and stonemason, and his mother was a home-maker and a substitute teacher...
, writer and professor. - Stevie Scott, American Idol (season 5)American Idol (season 5)The fifth season of American Idol began on January 17, 2006 and concluded on May 24, 2006. Randy Jackson, Paula Abdul and Simon Cowell returned to judge, and Ryan Seacrest returned to host. It is the most successful season to date ratings-wise and also with 18 contestants getting record deals -...
contestant. - George Sessions, emeritus faculty, editor of Deep Ecology for the 21st Century.
- Heather Rene SmithHeather Rene SmithHeather Rene Smith is an American model.Smith was the Playboy Playmate for February 2007. She also appeared on the cover of the October/November 2006 issue of Playboy Lingerie and as Co-ed of the Week at Playboy Cyber Club...
- Playboy Playmate of the Month (February 2007) - James LeVoy SorensonJames LeVoy SorensonJames LeVoy Sorenson was the founder of Sorenson Companies, a parent company of 32 corporations.A noted philanthropist, he was the richest man in Utah with an estimated net worth of $4.5 billion at the time of his death....
, inventor and entrepreneur. - John RomeroJohn RomeroAlfonso John Romero is a game designer, programmer, and developer in the video game industry. He is best known as a co-founder of id Software and was a designer for many of their games, including Wolfenstein 3D, Dangerous Dave, Doom and Quake...
, game designer - Fenuki TupouFenuki TupouFenuki Tupou is an American football guard who is currently a member of the New Orleans Saints. He was drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles in the fifth round of the 2009 NFL Draft. He played college football at Oregon.-Early years:...
, Offensive Guard for The Philadelphia Eagles.