GENERAL INFORMATION Accreditation Ventura College is one of California’s 109 public community colleges and is subject to the legal provisions of the state. Ventura College is fully accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges. U.S. Department of Education, General Education Provisions Act (GEPA) Ventura College (VC) is in compliance with all applicable Federal and State laws, and welcomes students for admission to any course of study for which they are otherwise qualified without regard to age, marital status, race, color, creed, gender, sexual preference, national origin, disability, or status as a disabled veteran or veteran of the Vietnam era. VC embraces both the letter and the spirit of the Americans with Disabilities Act. VC fully informs students of the availability of services to ensure equitable access. Access information is disseminated in both printed and electronic form throughout the College’s expansive service area. College Services At Ventura College, there is a strong commitment to equal opportunity for all students who choose to attend and can profit from the educational courses and programs. All people are welcome to the college family. Various offices and associations promote the efforts of underrepresented people to become students. Students interested in assistance from these support groups and offices may make the appropriate contact. The Advantages of a Community College Ventura College offers students some very special opportunities not found at four-year colleges and universities. We put students and teaching first, with smaller classes and more individual attention from staff, counselors, and instructors. We are the convenient equivalent to lower division university studies and provide smooth and secure transfer to four-year schools. We welcome all students, whether just out of high school or returning to school after a period of work or home responsibilities. Any student who can benefit from our classes is welcome to attend. We are the obvious “best-buy” in higher education—fees are low, quality is high. College and the Community Though Ventura College draws students from other California regions, as well as other states and foreign countries, there is a particularly strong bond between the campus and the communities which surround it. For decades, Ventura College stood alone as the only postsecondary institution in the county, and, as a result, the College counts as friends, supporters, and alumni, thousands of people from across the Oxnard plain and the Santa Clara, Ojai, Conejo and Simi Valleys. In many of these areas, but particularly in the west county, Ventura College is known as “the College.’’ Today, Ventura College maintains the same strong commitments with its community. The performances of College drama, music, opera, dance, and athletic groups and teams draw enthusiastic support from the community, as do professional and student artists who exhibit in the two College galleries. In addition to these Curricular activities, special noncredit courses and other events, performances, and excursions keep the community focused on the College as an exciting cultural and recreational center. In 1981, the Ventura College Foundation was established by the College President and a group of education-minded business and professional people from the community. The purpose of the Foundation is to support the goals and services of the College by building and shaping community support. By the end of 1986, the Foundation’s base of support had grown to the point where it appointed an executive director, and set as a capital project goal a new campus building to house tutoring and testing services in addition to providing a place for community meetings. Guthrie Hall was dedicated in November 1989. The Foundation continues to build support for its ongoing projects of student scholarships, staff study grants and program support. If you would like to be part of the tradition, call the Foundation at (805) 6546461 and become involved. Alumni Association The Ventura College Alumni & Friends Association was created to foster a spirit of friendship and philanthropy among alumni and friends for scholarships, newsletters, reunions, and special events. For additional information, contact the Ventura College Foundation at (805) 654-6461, or visit the Web site www.venturacollege.edu/foundation/index.htm History Community college education in Ventura County began in 1925 when a junior college department was added at Ventura Union High School, on the site now occupied by Cabrillo Middle 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. 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-acre hillside campus at 4667 Telegraph Road in the eastern part of Ventura. The current student enrollment of the College for day and evening classes both on-campus and off-campus (Fillmore, Ojai, Piru, Santa Paula) is approximately 12,000. The East Campus has been added in Santa Paula. The citizens of Ventura County voted in 1962 to form a community college district separate from any other public school entity. Ventura College has since grown into a comprehensive community college serving a diverse population of college-age and adult students who pursue a wide variety of transfer, vocational, and other educational goals. Today the Ventura County Community College District includes two additional colleges—Moorpark and Oxnard. The District Offices are centrally located in Camarillo. In March 2002, the Ventura County voters approved 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 using bond funds was the Library and Learning Resources Center which opened in January 2005. The new Student Services Center and the Ventura College Sports Complex are currently under construction. Presidential History Over the past 80 years, Ventura College has had exemplary leadership. That leadership was provided by: H.O. Wise 1925-1928 Melrowe Martin 1928-1929 Amos E. Clark 1929-1931 D.R. Henry 1931-1953 Hugh Price 1953-1956 Phil Putnam 1956-1960 Ed Rowins 1960-1966 Richard E. Loehr 1967-1974 Dr. Richard A. Glenn 1974-1985 Dr. Robert W. Long 1985-1992 Dr. Jesus Carreón 1992-1995 Dr. Larry A. Calderón 1995-2004 Dr. Robin Calote 2005-current Administrative Offices President 654-6460 Executive Vice President of Student Learning 654-6464 Vice President of Business Services 654-6354 Offices of the Deans Arts and Sciences 654-6339 Business, Community Education, Off-Campus Programs 654-6368 Community and Economic Development 654-6400 ext. 3143 Criminal Justice, Technology, Music and Reserve Academy 654-6470 Distance Education 654-6452 Evening Supervisor 654-6483 Health and Human Performance 654-6348 Liberal Arts and Learning Resources 654-6468 Student Development 654-6455 East Campus East Campus at Santa Paula 525-7136 IMPORTANT CAMPUS PHONE NUMBERS For general information call: From Ventura, Ojai, Saticoy, all others not specifically listed: (805) 654-6400, (805) 656-0546. From Oxnard, Camarillo, Port Hueneme: (805) 986-5855 - connect to Ventura College From Moorpark, Thousand Oaks, Simi Valley, Agoura: (805) 378-1500 - connect to Ventura College Admissions and Records 654-6457 Assessment / Testing Center 654-6402 Bilingual College Services 654-6484 Bookstore 654-6485 Business Services 654-6354 CalWORKs 648-8903 Campus Police 654-6486 Career Center 654-6411 Child Development Center 648-8930 Community Education 654-6459 Counseling Center 654-6448 East Campus 525-7136 Educational Assistance Center (formerly Disabled Students Center) 654-6300 TDD only.. 642-4583 Extended Opportunity Program and Services (EOPS) 654-6302 Financial Aid Office 654-6369 Human Resources 654-6465 Institute of Comm. and Prof. Development 648-8904 International Student Center 654-6323 Learning Center 654-6320 East Campus Branch 525-7136 Library 654-6482 East Campus Branch 525-7136 Math Center 654-6400 ext.3255 Matriculation Office 654-6493 Public Relations 654-6462 Re-entry and Women’s Center 654-6365 Reserve Academy 987-7413 Scholarships (Foundation) 654-6461 Student Activities Office 654-6487 Student Business Office 654-6488 Student Business Fax 648-8950 Student Health Center 654-6346 Student Payroll 654-6400 ext.1351 Transfer Center 654-6473 Tutoring Center 648-8926 East Campus Branch 525-7136 Ventura College Foundation 654-6461 Veteran’s Affairs 654-6457