2 Ventura College Catalog 2004-2005 Welcome to Ventura College. We have a proud tradition of innovative programs, outstanding faculty, excellent academic offerings, and a beautiful campus. Ventura College can help you reach your professional and personal goals. Ventura College is a long-standing, unique resource in our community, having served four generations of students since we opened our doors in 1925. Students attending our College can earn associate’s degrees or complete certificates in more than 100 programs, learn a new profession or sharpen their vocational skills, all while participating in student activities, leadership and athletics. VC is very successful at transferring students to four-year universities: We are among the top 20% of all California Community Colleges (CCCs) transferring students to the University of California (UC) system, and in the top third of CCCs transferring students to the California State University system. Officially designated a Hispanic-serving institution by the U.S. Department of Education, Ventura College is among the top 10% of CCCs accounting for Hispanic students transferring to the UC system, and we are nationally recognized for our success rate in awarding associate’s degrees to Hispanic students. More than 12,500 students enroll at Ventura College every semester. Our students range from high school students earning early college credits through our Middle College Academy to retirees participating in our Emeritus Institute, and all those in between who are pursing degrees, sharpening their professional skills, or just having fun learning a new hobby. Our goal is to continue to provide educational programs that will meet the life-long learning and employment aspirations of our diverse student population. Our lush campus is receiving a $117 million face-lift as a result of the passage of a bond in 2002. Virtually every building on campus will be renovated or replaced. The newest addition is a magnificent 100,000 square foot Library and Learning Resource Center that will have its own B.E.A.C.H. —- an acronym for “Best Environment for Access to Computers and Help.” The B.E.A.C.H. area will accommodate 360 computers, serve as a lab for reading, writing, study skills, learning skills for EAC students, foreign languages, and nursing, and still have 180 computers for drop-by use. A new Planetarium, High Tech Center, Health Sciences Building, and athletics facilities will follow the completion of the LRC. We offer a variety of support services to ensure your success, including academic and career counseling, tutoring, and a center for students with learning and physical disabilities. Our financial aid office can guide you in exploring the maze of student assistance plans. Our child development center provides developmentally appropriate toddler and preschool programs. Education can fit into your busy schedule, with choices of day and evening classes, and a variety of locations including the Ventura campus, the East Campus in Santa Paula, and other sites in Ventura, Ojai, Fillmore and Piru. We have television, video and vastly expanded online course offerings. Through technology, virtually every aspect of a quality education is available to the student who might not otherwise be able to attend classes. Michael D. Gregoryk Acting President FROM THE PRESIDENT Ventura College Catalog 2004-2005 3 VISION STATEMENT Ventura College is an educational leader providing a positive and accessible learning environment that is responsive to the needs of students, promotes success, develops students to their full potential, creates lifelong learners, and fosters positive human values for successful living and membership in a global environment. The College is a national model of how institutions of higher learning can combine innovative programs, student support, and instructional technologies to provide outstanding learning opportunities and community services. MISSION STATEMENT Ventura College is a comprehensive community college with a long-standing tradition of active outreach and service to local and global communities. Originally landscaped to be an arboretum, Ventura College remains a beautiful, unique campus with a special interest in the study and preservation of the environment. The College offers a comprehensive curriculum with a diverse selection of disciplines, learning approaches and teaching methods. It is a leader in providing instruction and support for students with disabilities. Educational experiences provided by Ventura College include classes in basic skills; courses for high school students; programs for students seeking an associate’s degree, certificate or license for job placement and advancement; curricula for students planning to transfer; training programs for such organizations as agriculture, business, education, health care, and government; and other educational activities to meet learning and employment needs. The College community is made up of a dedicated, caring and diverse team of professionals who are committed to assisting all students in achieving their personal and professional goals and developing their full potential in an ever-changing cultural, socioeconomic, and technological world. It does this by providing support services and co-curricular experiences to educate the whole person, one with the knowledge, critical thinking skills and judgment to be a responsible leader and citizen in an open, democratic and diverse society. As one of the oldest community colleges in California, Ventura College has a strong and deep connection to the community. It fulfills its long-standing responsibility for enhancing the quality of life of Ventura County by aligning its programs and services to the regional needs, being receptive to requests from the community, and forming unique partnerships. 4 Ventura College Catalog 2004-2005 STATEMENT OF VALUES The Ventura College community is committed to following a set of enduring core Values that guide it through changing times and give rise to its Vision, Mission and Goals. 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. * * * * * * * * * Ventura College Catalog 2004-2005 5 STATEMENT OF GOALS 1. Develop and maintain excellent educational programs and services in a unique learning environment where individuals can fulfill their personal and professional dreams. 2. Increase enrollments at Ventura College and access to post-secondary education for all. 3. Expand the use of instructional and administrative technology to make Ventura College a recognized leader of technology among California Community Colleges. 4. Foster a climate that promotes and reflects Ventura College’s core values. 5. Create and expand programs to attract outstanding and diverse professionals to Ventura College and provide training programs that enable all to be active members of the learning community, to achieve their long-term professional goals, and to meet student and regional needs. 6. Create a physical environment that generates pride and supports Ventura College’s Mission, Goals and initiatives. 7. Form partnerships with educational, business, and other organizations that will achieve mutual goals and strengthen the College and the region. 8. Create a strong, unified image that reflects Ventura College’s aspirations and importance to the campus and external communities. 9. Enhance the financial strength of the College by aligning its resources with its Mission and Goals, continuously improving operational efficiency, and acquiring new revenue sources. 10. Continuously improve institutional effectiveness by defining a clear and distinctive Mission, establishing an ongoing collaborative planning process, maintaining participatory governance, and gathering and utilizing relevant data to assess the College’s progress toward fulfilling its Mission and Goals. CREDITS Cover Design – Barbara Harvey, Ventura College Photos – Barbara Harvey, Angelica Ramos-Navarro and Alisa Sparkia Moore Production – Christina L. Garcia 6 Ventura College Catalog 2004-2005 Studying in the courtyard of the old D.R. Henry library Ventura College Catalog 2004-2005 7 TABLE OF CONTENTS General Information ....................................................................................... 9 Campus Telephone Numbers ........................................................................ 10 Admissions Information ................................................................................ 11 Academic Calendar ....................................................................................... 19 Academic Policies ......................................................................................... 20 Instructional Support Services ...................................................................... 27 Student Services ........................................................................................... 29 Special Programs .......................................................................................... 35 Degrees, Programs, Transfer Information ..................................................... 37 Announcement of Courses ............................................................................ 81 Credit Courses ............................................................................................... 85 Non-credit Courses ....................................................................................... 213 Faculty and Administration ............................................................................ 215 Appendices: Student Conduct Code............................................................................. 223 Student Grievance Procedure .................................................................. 225 Privacy Rights Governing Student Records............................................. 226 Academic Freedom .................................................................................. 227 Solicitation ............................................................................................... 228 Publicity Code and Information Dissemination ........................................ 228 Use of Student Image, Likeness or Voice Captured at Public Events ...... 228 Parking & Campus Traffic ....................................................................... 228 Equal Opportunity Statement ................................................................... 230 Student’s Right-to-Know ......................................................................... 231 Policy on Harrassment/Discrimination .................................................... 231 Sexual Assault ......................................................................................... 233 Student Financial Services ...................................................................... 236 Student’s Right-to-Know Campus Security and Crime Awareness ......... 239 Glossary of College Terms ............................................................................ 240 Index .............................................................................................................. 243 Maps.............................................................................................................. 245 8 Ventura College Catalog 2004-2005 Looking toward the new Library and Learning Resources Center (LRC) building (Dec. 2003) scheduled to open Fall 2004