2007 • 2008 General Catalog and Announcement of Courses Ventura College 4667 Telegraph Road, Ventura, CA 93003 (805) 654-6400, 986-5855, 378-1500, 656-0546 www.venturacollege.edu Ventura College is accredited by the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges of the Western Association of Schools and Colleges, 10 Commercial Boulevard, Suite 204, Novato, CA 94949, (415) 506-0234, an institutional accrediting body recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation and the U.S. Department of Education. The College Catalog is available in alternate formats upon request from the Educational Assistance Center, (805) 654-6300. Ventura College has made every reasonable effort to insure that the information provided in this general Catalog is accurate and current. However, this document should not be considered an irrevocable contract between the student and Ventura College. The content is subject to change. The College reserves the right to make additions, revisions, or deletions as may be necessary due to changes in governmental regulations, district policy, or college policy, procedures, or curriculum. The College will make every reasonable effort to inform students of significant changes that occur after publication of this document. The Community Colleges of Ventura County District Board of Trustees: Area 1 Mr. Stephen P. Blum, Esq. Area 2 Ms. Cheryl Heitmann, Trustee Area 3 Dr. Larry O. Miller, Chair Area 4 Mr. Robert O. Huber, Vice Chair Area 5 Mr. Arturo D. Hernández, Trustee Student Trustee Ms. Lorraine Hawes District Administrators Chancellor Chief Executive Officer Dr. James M. Meznek Vice Chancellor Business & Administrative Services Ms. Sue Johnson Associate Vice Chancellor, Human Resources Ms. Patricia Parham College Administrators President, Moorpark College Dr. Eva Conrad President, Oxnard College Dr. Richard Durán President, Ventura College Dr. Robin Calote FROM THE PRESIDENT As the President of Ventura College, I am pleased to welcome you to our college. Through the 2007-2008 Catalog, we are proud to showcase our innovative instructional programs and support services, outstanding faculty and staff, and beautiful campus! Students attending our comprehensive College can earn associate’s degrees or complete certificates in more than 75 programs, learn a new profession or sharpen their vocational skills, all while participating in student activities, leadership opportunities, and athletics. More than 12,500 students enroll at Ventura College every semester. With our students ranging from high school students earning early college credits to retirees exploring new fields, and all those in between who are pursing degrees, sharpening their professional skills, or just learning more about a topic of personal interest, we continue to provide educational programs that will meet the life-long learning and employment aspirations of our diverse student population. A very successful transfer institution, we have transfer agreements with five California State University (CSU) and University of California (UC) campuses, which ensures acceptance to those campuses by students who meet the institution’s requirements. We are among the top 25% of all California Community Colleges (CCCs) transferring students to the UC system, and in the top third of CCCs transferring students to the CSU system. In 2005-2006, the most recent year for which statistics are available, we were in the top three in the state for community colleges with enrollment between 10,500 and 12,500 in transferring students to both the CSU and the UC systems. Officially designated a Hispanic-serving institution by the U.S. Department of Education, we are nationally recognized for our success rate in awarding associate’s degrees to Hispanic students. Ventura College has long served the residents of Ventura County, both historically as the first college in the county and through our extensive partnerships with industry and government. We received more than $4 million in state and federal grants and foundation awards this year, which allows us to develop new programs, such as our joint efforts with high school students interested in environmental technology and industrial and technical work, and to enhance our current vocational and academic offerings. Our $117 million face-lift from the passage of bond Measure S continues. The Sports Complex is in its final stages of completion and the one-stop Student Services Center will be opening soon. Three new buildings, the Advanced Technology Center, a general purposes classroom building, and the Health Sciences Building, are in the design stages. To ensure student success, Ventura College offers a full complement of support services and flexible scheduling at a variety of locations, including the Ventura campus, the East Campus in Santa Paula, and other sites in Ventura, Santa Paula, Ojai and Fillmore. We also offer a full range of general education and CSU transferable online courses. In addition, we offer all graduating Ventura County high school students and recipients of the GED their first year enrollment fees free through The Ventura College Promise, a program funded through the generosity of the Ventura College Foundation. On behalf of the administration, faculty and staff of Ventura College, welcome! We wish you every success in your academic endeavors. Robin Calote, Ed.D. President COLLEGE PHILOSOPHY Vision We believe in the power of education to change the lives and economic futures of our students and their communities. We succeed when our students can apply what they have learned to create new knowledge, to engage in meaningful employment, and to actively participate as informed members of society. We celebrate the power and diversity of ideas, cultures, races, lifestyles, and learning styles. We expand educational opportunities and enrich the learning environment through traditional classroom instruction, distance education technologies, experiential learning, and meaningful cocurricular activities. We have a passion for excellence, and hold ourselves and our students to the highest standards of conduct and performance Mission The mission of Ventura College is: to offer academic and vocational programs leading to the completion of associate degrees or certificates; to prepare students to transfer to four-year colleges and universities; to provide remediation to those who need to improve their basic skills; to support the state and region’s economic viability through workforce development; and to provide continuing education opportunities that enhance personal growth and life enrichment. The college serves high school graduates and others who are able to benefit from the academic and vocational opportunities it offers. Courses are provided using both traditional and distance learning delivery systems. The faculty and staff of Ventura College are committed to student success and strive to create an environment of continuous improvement through the establishment of measurable and/or observable student learning outcomes that can be used to assess student performance, improve instructional and service delivery, and guide institutional decision-making. Statement of Values The Ventura College community is committed to following a set of enduring core Values that guide it through changing times. Respect We believe in the personal dignity and full potential of every individual and in fostering positive human values in the classroom and in all our interactions. Integrity We are committed to maintaining an open, honest and ethical environment. Quality We are dedicated to achieving excellence in the broad range of academic programs and services we provide to our students and the community. Collegiality We are committed to creating a professional and supportive environment where students, faculty, and staff can achieve personal growth and fulfillment. Access We believe it is essential to provide and nurture learning opportunities for all individuals. Innovation We recognize that change is constant and that it is imperative that we continually evaluate our performance and seek new and improved approaches to providing educational programs and services. Diversity We are dedicated to embracing and responding to our increasingly diverse student body. Service Ventura College values its importance to the community and is dedicated to enhancing the community’s quality of life and to meeting its needs. Collaboration We believe that better results are achieved by working together, whether as colleagues on College issues and decisions or by actively seeking to form partnerships with other organizations to address mutual Goals.