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Pasadena City College

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Pasadena City College (PCC) is a public community college in Pasadena, California.

Pasadena City College
Former names
Pasadena Junior College (1924–1947)
MottoStudent Success, Our Top Priority
TypePublic community college
Established1924[1]
Budget$248.1 million[2]
PresidentJosé A. Gómez[3]
Students25,319 (As of 2015)[4]
Location
Pasadena
,
California
,
United States

34°8′40″N 118°7′5″W / 34.14444°N 118.11806°W / 34.14444; -118.11806
ColorsCardinal Red and Gold   
NicknameLancer
Websitepasadena.edu

History

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Pasadena City College Clocktower

Pasadena City College was founded in 1924 as Pasadena Junior College. It originally operated on Pasadena High School's campus as an extended learning program of the high school.[5] In 1928, PJC and Pasadena High School formally merged.[5] From 1928 to 1953, it operated as a four-year junior college, combining the last two years of high school with the first two years of college.[6]

In 1946, John Muir College was founded due to PJC's enlarged enrollment.[5] The following year, Pasadena Junior College was renamed Pasadena City College.[5] While at John Muir, Fred Phelps was profiled in Time magazine for preaching against "sins committed on campus by students and teachers ... promiscuous petting ... evil language ... profanity ... cheating ... teachers' filthy jokes in classrooms ... [and] pandering to the lusts of the flesh".[7] Phelps later became leader of the Westboro Baptist Church.

In 1954, John Muir and PCC merged, forming the modern Pasadena City College. In 1966, voters approved the creation of the Pasadena Area Junior College District. The name was subsequently changed to the Pasadena Area Community College District.[8] Pasadena City College is accredited by the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges of the Western Association of Schools and Colleges, an institutional accrediting body recognized by the Commission on Recognition of Postsecondary Accreditation and the U.S. Department of Education.[9]

The Shatford Library is a direct descendant of the original Pasadena High School library that originally occupied the campus. The $16.5-million Shatford Library opened September 7, 1993, and holds 133,024 volumes in the general book collection, over 300 periodical subscriptions (plus over 2,000 titles in electronic databases) 7,338 audio cassettes, 1,019 paperbacks, 661 CDs and software, 404 volumes in the Special Services collection, and 1,186 videocassettes.[10] Walter T. Shatford II, is the attorney for whom the library was named in recognition of his four decades of service on the school's board and his donations. He was also active in the Civil Rights Movement.[11]

On March 20, 2003, on the day the United States launched Operation Iraqi Freedom, many students led by the Students for Social Justice, protested on campus against the war. Protesters went through the administration building requesting students to join their cause. Three students were arrested by campus police.[12] That same year, voters approved a bond measure for about $150 million that improved campus facilities. A significant portion of these funds were earmarked for the construction of a new building to house the college's art and music departments. The Alumni Commons, the Aquatic Center, the Boone Sculpture Garden, and the Galloway Plaza have all replaced what were once campus parking lots. A new fourth floor parking structure (Lot 5) and a new bus parking area were completed in 2005.

In 2007, many services at the school had to relocate pending demolition of their previous facilities. These included the college bookstore, Student Affairs, Associated Students, the student business services, the campus police and the offices of the school newspaper The Courier. A groundbreaking ceremony for the construction of the new Industrial and Technology building, Campus Center and Bookstore took place in October 2007. The Campus Center and Bookstore opened in August 2009. The school is one of the few community colleges with its own observatory, planetarium, and seismograph.[13] Additionally, in 2007 demonstrators from Philadelphia-based Repent America demonstrated on campus, leading to tensions between demonstrators and some students. PCC students, some who were journalism students and staff members of the campus newspaper, PCC Courier, were involved in the May Day melee at MacArthur Park.[citation needed] Later that year, students and faculty held a rally in support of the Jena Six. Some students were beaten and arrested at the MacArthur Park immigrant rights demonstration on May 1, 2007.[14]

During 2012 and 2013, the school became embroiled in conflict between students and faculty and the campus administration.[15][16] On August 29, 2012, the PCC Board unilaterally cancelled the subsequent six-week winter session.[17] One student was arrested at this board meeting. Organized by a newly formed group called Coalition of Students and Faculty for Student Achievement, a rally during the first week back of the illegitimate new Spring semester kicked off a steady wave of student and faculty activism.[18] Eventually, course sections were cut, student transfers to four-year institutions were delayed, overall full-time student enrollments were reduced, and Proposition 30 monies allotted to the school were jeopardized.[19] According to the California Community Colleges Chancellor's Office, 2012–2013 had the lowest full-time enrollments in 17 years at 20,219; Spring 2013 had the lowest full-time enrollments in 10 years at 9838 students.[20] The Faculty Association filed an unfair labor practice on the District for canceling winter abruptly and won in November 2013.[21][22] The district filed an appeal to the ruling, thus prolonging the orders to rescind the trimester calendar and return to the status quo while ratcheting up annual 7% compensation to affected employees.[22][23]

In Spring 2013, in an unprecedented move, the Associated Students unanimously censured the administration and passed a vote of no confidence in the school's president, Mark W. Rocha, and collectively called for his immediate ouster.[24][25] Separately, a vote among full-time faculty members expressed no confidence in Rocha by a margin of 92 percent to 8 percent.[26][27] The Academic Faculty Senate also voted, 24–0, no confidence in the president.[27][28]

The board of trustees remained firm in their support of Rocha, extending his contract another year and giving Rocha a raise.[29] In 2014, however, the faculty maintained its disapproval of the college president's performance as revealed in the faculty-wide evaluation of the PCC President.[30] The negative campus climate has also been a concern with the staff and faculty, which prompted a campus-wide town hall sponsored by the faculty senate.[31][32] Rocha was named one of Pasadena Weekly's less-than-stellar local "turkey" leaders of 2013.[33] After a failed attempt to find work elsewhere,[34][35] Rocha announced his retirement on August 7, 2014,[36] but later became the Chancellor of San Francisco City College, where after less than three years he was placed on leave in March 2020, according to the San Francisco Examiner.

In 2014, the Oscar-winning screenplay writer Dustin Lance Black was invited to speak at commencement, but in a controversial move he was subsequently uninvited by PCC Board of Trustees Anthony Fellow, who said, "We just don't want to give PCC a bad name." According to the Los Angeles Times,[37] "School officials pretended that Black was never approved as commencement speaker, when in fact they approved him. They said that his brush with a sex scandal has 'no place in public discussion,' when in fact they discussed it with reporters, students and each other." The college issued an apology, and later re-extended the invitation.[38]

Administration and governance

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Grand entrance, renamed the Jack Scott Building in 2023, to Pasadena City College

The college is governed by a nine-member board of trustees. Seven members are elected (each of whom represents a geographical section of the Pasadena Area Community College District, which includes Pasadena, Altadena, La Caňada Flintridge, Sierra Madre, South Pasadena, San Marino, Arcadia, Temple City, the western portion of El Monte, the northern portion of Rosemead and the East Pasadena/East San Gabriel unincorporated area); one is a student trustee who is elected by the student body; and one is the sitting college president, who is also the district superintendent. Mark W. Rocha, former West Los Angeles College president, assumed the role of president/superintendent on July 1, 2010, when he was chosen to replace Lisa Sugimoto.[39] His presidency was controversial with some constituents, including the faculty who twice voted "no confidence" in him, and he resigned in the summer of 2014.[40][41]

Previous presidents/superintendents include Jack Scott (1987–1995), who served as California State Assemblymember from 1996 to 2000 and California State Senator from 2000 to 2008. As of 2009, Scott is Chancellor of the California Community College system; James Kossler, 1995–2007; Paulette Perfumo, who held the position from August 2007 until her abrupt resignation in 2009; and Lisa Sugimoto, who served as acting president through the end of the 2009–2010 academic year.[42]

Demographics

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Student body composition as of 2022
Race and ethnicity[43] Total
Hispanic 50% 50
 
Asian 23% 23
 
White 15% 15
 
Black 4% 4
 
Two or more races[a] 4% 4
 
Foreign national 2% 2
 
Unknown 2% 2
 
Gender Distribution
Male 44% 44
 
Female 56% 56
 
Age Distribution
Under 18 6% 6
 
18-24 62% 62
 
25-64 32% 32
 

The school attracts students from throughout Southern California, enrolling a large percentage of student from outside the bounds of the Pasadena Area Community College District, which was established in 1966. The district includes the cities of Pasadena, South Pasadena, Altadena, San Marino, Temple City, La Cañada Flintridge, Arcadia, Sierra Madre, and portions of Rosemead and El Monte.[13]

As of 2017, there are approximately 27,324 students enrolled in the school. Full-time enrollment 10,422 and part-time 16,902 students. The student-faculty ratio is 26-to-1. The demographics of the students in 2012: 43.2 percent Hispanic, 26.8 percent Asian or Pacific Islander, 9 percent Caucasian, 3.9 percent African American, and 0.1 percent American Indian. 51.2 percent of the students are female, while 48.3 percent are male.[44]

The in-state tuition and fees for 2017–2018 were $1,348, and out-of-state tuition and fees were $7,004. There is no application fee.

The staff members of the International Student Office assist international students in the application process and support their transition during their time at the school.[45] Before registration, international students are required to pass the English as a Second Language (ESL) and Math placement examinations before being accepted into the school. They are also required to attend counseling to plan for classes.[45] Assistance is available to become familiar with campus resources, i.e., Counseling Office, Library, Learning Assistance Center (LAC), the ESL Center, and Computing Services. It is recommended that all students meet with a counselor to develop a Student Educational Plan (SEP) (L104).[45]

In 2015, there were 425 full-time professors and 1,119 part-time professors. They are represented by the Academic Senate and the Faculty Association. There were 322 classified staff. There were a total of 77 administrators (managers, directors, supervisors, deans, vice-president and president), represented by the Management Association.

Media

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The Courier is the official student award-winning newspaper of Pasadena City College. It has been honored with a General Excellence Award by the Journalism Association of Community Colleges.[46][non-primary source needed] The students were also honored for their work on the campus newspaper.[citation needed]

Athletics

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Athletic programs at Pasadena City College include basketball, cross country, swimming, tennis, track and field, volleyball, baseball, softball, football, and soccer.[47] The sports teams are known as the Lancers, and the school colors are cardinal red and gold. Pasadena's teams were known as the Bulldogs prior the school's merger with John Muir College in 1954. Muir's teams were known as the "Mustangs"[48][49]

The school's baseball team uses the Jackie Robinson Field, located near the Rose Bowl, for practices and home games.[13] Robinson Stadium is named for Jackie and Mack Robinson, both of whom were PCC alumni.[13] The stadium was completed in 1999, after a renovation to move the stadium from a North-West position to an East-West direction. The stadium's surface is SprinTurf,[50] while the track has been converted to an all-weather surface. In addition to the school students, the stadium is used by local students from Marshall Fundamental Secondary School, Pasadena High School, and Blair International Baccalaureate School for some high school home football games due to lack of resources on the respective campus fields. It has been the home of the annual two-day "Bandfest" for the Pasadena Tournament of Roses for many years.

The Pasadena City College women's badminton team won AIAW national intercollegiate championships in 1972 and 1973, topping fields that included previous champions Long Beach State and Arizona State.[51]

Satellite campuses

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Pasadena City College has four satellite campuses, the Child Development Center, the Foothill campus, the Rosemead campus, and the Northwest campus at John Muir High School.

The Child Development Center, located one block west of the PCC campus, is a childcare center for children of the school's students.[13]

The Foothill campus (formally known as the Community Education Center), located two miles east of the main campus, is an offsite facility where vocational training, some ESL courses, American Citizenship courses, and the college's high school diploma program take place.

The Rosemead campus was established in the Fall of 2013 in efforts to provide more offerings to students throughout the district.[52]

The Northwest campus at John Muir High School was established in the Spring of 2016 which offers career training programs and offering high school students opportunity in applying for college courses.[53]

Shuttles connect the main (Colorado) campus with the Foothill and Rosemead campuses (see Transportation section below).

Classes at high schools

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Pasadena City College offers courses that can be taken at nearby high schools. Courses are also offered at the Armory Center for the Arts in downtown Pasadena.[13]

Notable people

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Below is a list of Pasadena City College faculty and alumni.

Faculty

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Alumni

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Notes

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  1. ^ Other consists of Multiracial Americans & those who prefer to not say.

References

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  1. ^ "Pasadena City College - International Students - Campus Information: About PCC". Pasadena.edu. January 29, 2009. Archived from the original on February 24, 2012. Retrieved March 23, 2013.
  2. ^ https://pasadena.edu/business-administrative-services/fiscal-services/docs/adopted-budgets/2022-2023/Adopted-Budget-FY-2022-2023.pdf [bare URL PDF]
  3. ^ "Office of the President". Retrieved March 25, 2024.
  4. ^ "Fact Sheet" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on March 17, 2016. Retrieved April 12, 2017.
  5. ^ a b c d "A Brief History of Pasadena City College - Pasadena City College". curriculum.pasadena.edu. Retrieved June 11, 2023.
  6. ^ Winter, Carl G. (1964). History of the Junior College Movement in California (PDF). Bureau of Junior Colleges. p. 13. Archived (PDF) from the original on November 29, 2014. Retrieved January 6, 2015.
  7. ^ "Religion: Repentance In Pasadena". Time. June 11, 1951. Archived from the original on November 30, 2012. Retrieved December 10, 2012.
  8. ^ "History - About PCC - Pasadena City College". pasadena.edu. Archived from the original on March 4, 2017. Retrieved March 4, 2017.
  9. ^ "PCC is Accredited by the WASC - Institutional Effectiveness - Pasadena City College". Pasadena.edu. Archived from the original on March 17, 2013. Retrieved March 23, 2013.
  10. ^ "Shatford Library, Pasadena City College - Pasadena, CA - Libraries on". Waymarking.com. Archived from the original on October 18, 2012. Retrieved March 23, 2013.
  11. ^ Nelson, Valerie J. (May 23, 2009). "Walter T. Shatford Ii, 1914–2009 – Los Angeles Times". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on September 10, 2011. Retrieved January 7, 2011.
  12. ^ Hoffman, Gretchen (March 27, 2003). "PCC students, faculty stage protest". Pasadena Star-News. Archived from the original on October 24, 2012. Retrieved August 27, 2007.
  13. ^ a b c d e f "Welcome to Pasadena City College - President Dr. Mark Rocha". Pasadena.edu. Archived from the original on July 26, 2006. Retrieved March 23, 2013.
  14. ^ http://www.pcccourier.com/home/index.cfm?event=displayArticlePrinterFriendly&uStory_id=3b330812-69b6-49bc-8307-32dc1749d64e][dead link‍]
  15. ^ "Editorial: Damage is done; apology is needed". PCC Courier. July 10, 2013. Archived from the original on December 20, 2013. Retrieved December 19, 2013.
  16. ^ "Campus Seethes over Administration". PCC Courier. Archived from the original on April 25, 2013. Retrieved March 22, 2013.
  17. ^ Chang-Chien, Emily (September 5, 2012). "Faculty Dismayed by Winter Cancellation". PCC Courier. Archived from the original on December 20, 2013. Retrieved December 19, 2013.
  18. ^ "Rally (1.10.13)". Coalition of Students and Faculty for Student Achievement. August 25, 2013. Archived from the original on October 19, 2015. Retrieved June 13, 2015.
  19. ^ "Effects of Winter's Mismanagement – Coalition of Students and Faculty for Student Achievement". Coalition of Students and Faculty for Student Achievement. August 24, 2013. Archived from the original on October 19, 2015. Retrieved June 13, 2015.
  20. ^ "California Community Colleges Chancellor's Office – Data Mart". Archived from the original on June 23, 2015. Retrieved June 13, 2015.
  21. ^ Poulisse, Adam (December 13, 2013). "Accused of Violating Educational Employment Relations Act". Pasadena Star News. Archived from the original on December 20, 2013. Retrieved December 19, 2013.
  22. ^ a b "PCC Faculty Association Prevails at PERB over the Cancellation of Winter Intersession!". PCC Faculty Association. December 4, 2013. Archived from the original on June 15, 2015. Retrieved June 13, 2015.
  23. ^ Staff (December 4, 2013). "Editorial: Cancelling Winter Intersession Was Illegal, Judge Finds". PCC Courier. Archived from the original on December 20, 2013. Retrieved December 19, 2013.
  24. ^ "Associated Students resolution of No Confidence" (PDF). February 27, 2013. Archived (PDF) from the original on December 20, 2013. Retrieved March 20, 2013.
  25. ^ "Vote of No Confidence – Associated Students – Coalition of Students and Faculty for Student Achievement". Coalition of Students and Faculty for Student Achievement. August 24, 2013. Archived from the original on October 19, 2015. Retrieved June 13, 2015.
  26. ^ Anthony Richetts (March 14, 2013). "Faculty Overwhelmingly has No Confidence in Administration". PCC Courier. Archived from the original on December 20, 2013. Retrieved March 14, 2013.
  27. ^ a b "PCC's Vote of No Confidence & Aftermath – Press Coverage". PCC Faculty Association. March 22, 2013. Archived from the original on June 15, 2015. Retrieved June 13, 2015.
  28. ^ "Vote of No Confidence – Academic (Faculty) Senate – Coalition of Students and Faculty for Student Achievement". Coalition of Students and Faculty for Student Achievement. October 2013. Archived from the original on October 19, 2015. Retrieved June 13, 2015.
  29. ^ "Admin salaries". Coalition of Students and Faculty for Student Achievement. October 4, 2013. Archived from the original on October 19, 2015. Retrieved June 13, 2015.
  30. ^ "Academic Senate for Pasadena City College". Archived from the original on December 20, 2013. Retrieved April 27, 2014.
  31. ^ "Academic Senate - Pasadena City College". Archived from the original on April 27, 2014. Retrieved April 27, 2014.
  32. ^ "A lack of leadership". Pasadena Weekly. May 7, 2014. Archived from the original on June 15, 2015. Retrieved June 13, 2015.
  33. ^ Coleman, Andre; Uhrich, Kevin (November 26, 2013). "Let's Talk Turkeys". Pasadena Weekly. Archived from the original on December 20, 2013. Retrieved December 19, 2013.
  34. ^ "Pasadena Weekly – Big Apple bound?". June 17, 2014. Archived from the original on June 15, 2015. Retrieved June 13, 2015.
  35. ^ "Rocha not offered college presidency in New York – PCC Courier". Archived from the original on September 24, 2015. Retrieved June 13, 2015.
  36. ^ "Pasadena City College president is leaving after rocky tenure". Los Angeles Times. August 7, 2014. Archived from the original on June 8, 2015. Retrieved June 13, 2015.
  37. ^ Abcarian, Robin (April 25, 2014). "Questions plague Pasadena college over Dustin Lance Black debacle". The Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on April 26, 2014. Retrieved April 27, 2014.
  38. ^ Poulisse, Adam (April 22, 2014). "PCC Commencement Speech An Honest Error, College Claims". Pasadena Star News. Archived from the original on April 27, 2014. Retrieved April 27, 2014.
  39. ^ "Pasadena City College selects Mark Rocha as its new president - academicjobs.net". www.academicjobs.net. Retrieved October 22, 2020.
  40. ^ Jason Song (August 7, 2014). "Pasadena City College president is leaving after rocky tenure". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on August 8, 2014. Retrieved August 8, 2014.
  41. ^ "President Rocha will retire Aug. 31 – PCC Courier". Archived from the original on May 18, 2015. Retrieved June 13, 2015.
  42. ^ "Dr. Lisa Sugimoto Named PCC President on Interim Basis – Pasadena Now". www.pasadenanow.com. Retrieved October 22, 2020.
  43. ^ "Student Life (Fall 2022): Pasadena City College". USNEWS. Retrieved May 8, 2023.
  44. ^ "Fact Sheet - About Pasadena City College". Pasadena.edu. August 11, 2012. Archived from the original on March 17, 2013. Retrieved March 23, 2013.
  45. ^ a b c "Table of Contents" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on May 10, 2012. Retrieved March 23, 2013.
  46. ^ "Pasadena City College Student Newspaper Picks Up Journalism Awards - News - Pasadena City College". Pasadena.edu. Archived from the original on July 20, 2011. Retrieved March 23, 2013.
  47. ^ "Athletics Department - Pasadena City College". Pasadena.edu. Archived from the original on September 12, 2007. Retrieved March 23, 2013.
  48. ^ Seizer, Bob (August 31, 1954). "Pasadena Looms as Grid Power". The Mirror. Los Angeles, California. p. 4, part III. Retrieved May 7, 2024 – via Newspapers.com  .
  49. ^ Smith, Bill (September 1, 1954). "Pasadena pre-season choice for Western State grid title". Daily News. Los Angeles, California. p. 29. Retrieved May 7, 2024 – via Newspapers.com  .
  50. ^ "Pasadena City College Football". Pasadena.edu. March 14, 2013. Archived from the original on September 12, 2007. Retrieved March 23, 2013.
  51. ^ Hunt, Virginia (1976). Governance of Women's Intercollegiate Athletics: an Historical Perspective (University of North Carolina–Greensboro, PhD thesis). Ann Arbor, Michigan: University Microfilms (published 1977).
  52. ^ "PCC at Rosemead - Pasadena City College". pasadena.edu. Archived from the original on March 4, 2017. Retrieved March 4, 2017.
  53. ^ Boekelheide, Alex. "A New Approach To Educating At PCC Northwest". pasadena.edu. Archived from the original on March 4, 2017. Retrieved March 4, 2017.
  54. ^ a b c d e f g h i Gary Wayne. "Celebrity Schools". Seeing-stars.com. Archived from the original on January 20, 2013. Retrieved March 23, 2013.
  55. ^ Gore, Joe (1989), "Jennifer Batten: Storming the Boys' Club", Guitar Player, 23 (7): 92–103
  56. ^ Clemens, Samuel. "Pageantry", Lulu Press. August 2022
  57. ^ "George Reeves - Pasadena City College". Pasadena.edu. Archived from the original on July 20, 2011. Retrieved March 23, 2013.
  58. ^ "Sirhan's Parole - By Victor Davis Hanson - The Corner - National Review Online". Nationalreview.com. March 2, 2011. Archived from the original on October 20, 2012. Retrieved March 23, 2013.
  59. ^ Smith, Hubble (November 28, 2002). "Founder of doughnut shop chain dies". Las Vegas Review-Journal. Archived from the original on November 19, 2005.
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