Pasadena City College
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| Pasadena City College | |
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Student Success, Our Top Priority
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| Location | |
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| Pasadena, California USA |
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| Coordinates | Coordinates: |
| Information | |
| School district | Pasadena Area Community College District |
| President | Dr. Paulette J. Perfumo |
| Students | 24,932 |
| Type | Public Community College |
| Mascot | Lancer |
| Color(s) | Cardinal Red and Gold |
| Newspaper | PCC Courier PCCCourier.com |
| Established | 1924 |
| Homepage | Pasadena City College |
Pasadena City College (commonly known by the abbreviation PCC) is a community college located on Colorado Boulevard in Pasadena, California, USA. PCC is the third largest community college campus in the United States. [1]
The school attracts students from throughout southern California, enrolling a large percentage of student from outside of the bounds of the Pasadena Area Community College District, established in 1966. The district includes the cities of Pasadena, South Pasadena, Altadena, San Marino, Temple City, Burbank, La Canada Flintridge, Arcadia, Sierra Madre, and portions of Rosemead and El Monte.
The sports teams are known as the Lancers, and the school colors are cardinal red and gold.
As of 2006, the college claims that over one million individuals have taken classes at PCC.
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[edit] Overview
PCC was founded in 1924 as Pasadena Junior College. In 1954, Pasadena Junior College merged with another junior college, John Muir College, to become 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.
PCC is widely regarded as one of the best community colleges in the state, ranking first in four out of six categories among comparable colleges in a 2007 statewide assessment.[citation needed] The rate of students who transfer to four-year universities is ranked second after Santa Monica Community College. The math department has won the AMATYC community college mathematics competition numerous times. (PCC is currently the defending champion.) The music department provides the honor band for the Rose Parade and is the host of the annual Band Fest. Until recently, its applied music staff included John Dearman of the L.A. Guitar Quartet. The Visual Arts Division has a celebrated annual artist-in-residence program, a sculpture garden, an active gallery program featuring professional artists, and a high transfer rate to specialized art and design schools, including the nearby Art Center College of Design. The campus has a number of exceptional physical facilities: PCC is one of the few community colleges with its own observatory.
Pasadena City College has a proud and long history of teaching ethnic studies at the community college level. These include courses in Asian American studies (His 41, Soc 41, Psych 41, English 52), Chicano studies, African American studies, and American Indian studies.
As of fall 2004 there are 24,932 credit students and 3,931 noncredit students. The demographics of the students are: 35.9% Hispanic, 32.9% Asian or Pacific Islander, 19.2% White, 6.5% Black, and 0.7% American Indian.
The Fall 2006 enrollment was expected to be approximately 29,000.[citation needed]
Radio station KPCC 89.3, a member station of National Public Radio, airs from PCC. KPCC's main output is talk radio. During the California budget crisis of 2003, PCC found itself in the enviable position of having a budget surplus and an A+ loan rating.
PCC hosts an monthly antique and specialty item flea market which occures on the first Sunday of every month on campus.
In 1972 and 1973, the women's badminton team won the AIAW national all-collegiate championships.
[edit] Campus safety
PCC employs more police cadets than any other police agency in the United States.[citation needed] Its campus police is made of six full-time officers, a detective, a lieutenant, the chief, five dispatchers, and 85 campus cadets, most of whom are PCC students. The college utilizes the Pasadena Police Department when PCCPD resources are not available. Parking technicians, transportation services, and HAZMAT are employed by the campus police.
Despite the PCC Campus Police being a POST certified agency, the Pasadena Area Community College District Board of Trustees does not allow campus police officers to carry firearms. The main reason for this policy is that the department has direct radio contact with the Pasadena Police Department. Student polls are mixed between supporting and opposing arming campus police. In February 2008, the PCC Associated Students responding to several incidents voted unanimously in support of and recommended to the Board of Trustees to allow Campus Police Offcers who are POST Certified Peace Officers to carry handguns. The Associated Students noted several on campus incidents including the stabbing of a police dispatcher, the assault of a professor with a gun in a classroom and the armed robbery of a student in the parking structure with a gun as reasons for their resolution. Additionally recent campus shootings on colleges and universities across the nation were cited. Currently, PCC Campus police officers carry batons and pepper sprays.
Fire services for the campus are provided by the Pasadena Fire Department Station 34, located on 1360 E. Del Mar Blvd., which is 2-3 blocks west of the PCC campus.
[edit] Statistics
According to the California Postsecondary Education Commission in 2003,[citation needed] 465 PCC students transferred to the University of California system and 1,160 PCC students transferred to the California State University system. PCC has the highest number of transfers to the California State University system.
According to the Public Policy Institute of California,[citation needed] PCC's transfer rate is still the second highest in California, with 1816 students transferred during the 2005-2006 academic year, behind Santa Monica College's 2234 students.
[edit] Administration/board of trustees
PCC is governed by a nine member board of trustees, made of the President, a student trustee, and seven members each representing an area of the Pasadena Area Community College District. Seven members are elected by the people of the seven trustee areas, and the student trustee is elected by the student body. The President serves as the secretary for the Board of Trustees and is the chief administrative officer of the district
The current president of PCC is Dr. Paulette J. Perfumo, who has held the position since August 2007.
State Senator Jack Scott (1987-1995) and Dr. James Kossler (1995-2007) are the only President Emeriti of the college.
[edit] Events
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In 2000, another campus dispute centered on Irv Rubin of the Jewish Defense League, who came to speak on campus. While most students supported his right to free speech, many faculty felt he should not have come.[2]
On March 20, 2003, on the day the United States launched Operation Iraqi Freedom, many PCC 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.[3]
In October 30, 2006, PCC hosted an event in which Massachusetts Senator and U.S. presidential candidate John Kerry made controviersl remarks.
On March 7, 2007, demonstrators from Philadelphia-based Repent America demonstrated on campus, leading to tensions between demonstrators and some students, many of whom were homosexual but a majority were heterosexual allies. They were offended by a sign that said "Thousands of ex-homosexuals have experienced the life-changing love of Jesus Christ" and by voiced statements by the Repent America participants that Gays and Lesbians as well as Jews, Muslims, Buddhist, Catholics as well as single mothers were going to burn in hell [4]
Some PCC students, who were journalism students and were staff members of the campus newspaper, PCC Courier, were involved in the May Day melee at MacArthur Park.[5]
On June 10, 2007, a non-student stabbed a campus dispatcher at the campus police station in the evening hours. This led to campus police officers pleading for firearms.[6] The dispatcher returned to work a month later.
Students and Faculty held a rally in support of Jena Six on September 20, 2007. [1]
In October 2007, PCC faculty voted to break their longstanding ties with the California Teachers Association. The faculty is now represented by the Pasadena City College Faculty Association. [2]
Associated Students passed a resolution in November 2007, presented by Adam Kratt; ASPCC Vice President for Public Relations, calling for the Board of Trustees and the Administration to create gender neutral restrooms to provide a safe place for Disabled Persons with opposite gender caretakers, parents with opposite gender children, and where transgender students could use the restroom with out danger. The topic came up after a few transgender students reported being harassed and even assaulted in gender specific restrooms. The Board of Trustees has ignored the Associated Students request and turned a deaf ear to the dangers reported.[7]
In November 2007, PCC crowned Andrew Gomez a ftm transgender as King of the Homecoming Royal Court. After initially being denied participation by the Homecoming committee, Andrew Gomez was allowed to participate after the Associated Students became involved. Andrew not only became the first transgender nominated and elected to the honorary title of King at PCC, but is the first in the California Community College system. [8] [9]
Lonnie Teper's anual NPC Junior California Bodybuilding and Figure Championship is held in Sexton Auditorium.
[edit] Facilities
Many facilities on campus have undergone major renovations, mostly replacing parking lots. The Alumni Commons, the Aquatic Center, the Boone Sculpture Garden, and the Galloway Plaza have all replaced what was once parking lots on campus. These were completed in 1999.
The current stadium, Robinson Stadium, is named for Jackie and Mack Robinson, both of whom were PCC alumni. The stadium was completed in 1999 after a renovation to move the stadium from a vertical position to a horizontal position. Recently, Robinson Stadium's surface has changed to SprinTurf[10] and the track was converted to all-weather track. Besides PCC athletics, Marshall Fundamental Secondary School, Pasadena High School, and Blair International Baccalaureate School uses Robinson Stadium for some high school home football games due to lack of resources on the respective campus fields.
In 2003, voters approved a bond measure that will improve the facilities for about $150 million by 2010. A significant portion of these funds are earmarked for the construction of a new building to house the college's art and music departments.
A new 4 1/2 floor parking structure (Lot 5) and a new bus parking area was completed in 2005. During construction, PCC had a temporary parking lot (Lot K), located at Colorado Blvd. and Kinneloa Ave.
In 2007, many services at PCC have relocated pending demolition of their previous facilities. These include the college bookstore, Student Affairs, Associated Students, the student business services, the campus police and the offices of the school newspaper, The Courier. By July 2007, most services have relocated to temporary campus locations pending demolition of the former bookstore and renovation of the campus center.
A groundbreaking ceremony for the start of the construction of the new Industrial and Technology building, the new Campus Center, and Bookstore took place on October 17, 2007. Completion is set for early 2009.
PCC has two offsite facilities, the Child Development Center and the Community Education Center. The Child Development Center, located one block west of the PCC campus, is a childcare center for children of PCC students.
The Community Education Center, located two miles east of the main PCC campus, is an offsite facility where vocational training, some ESL courses, American Citizenship (known as "Americanization") courses, and PCC's high school diploma program take place. A shuttle service from the main campus is available to the Community Education Center.
PCC offers courses that can be taken at nearby high schools:
- John Muir High School in Pasadena
- Pasadena High School
- Marshall Fundamental Secondary School in Pasadena
- Blair International Baccalaureate School in Pasadena
- South Pasadena High School
- La Cañada High School in La Canada Flintridge
- Arcadia High School
- Temple City High School
- San Marino High School
Courses are also offered at the Armory Center for the Arts in downtown Pasadena.
PCC's baseball team uses Jackie Robinson Field, a baseball field near the Rose Bowl, for practices and home games.
[edit] Notable departments
The Product Design Department at Pasadena City College is a premier community college program and is one of only two product design programs in the California Community College System. The curriculum prepares students with a portfolio to enter the industrial design profession as an entry level designer. The courses develop a broad range of required skills including an understanding of the creative process with emphasis on function, environmental and social concerns, and the art form. Students enroll from around the world to prepare portfolios, many for application for four year colleges. The program is the #1 transfer program to Art Center College of Design and many other prestigious industrial design programs nationwide.[citation needed]
The Emergency Medical Technician Program is one of the top ranked in California and includes the Expanded Scope training. Students who complete the program are eligible to take the National Registry Exam
[edit] International students
International students are required to show proof of English ability before being accepted into the school. Students can demonstrate their English ability either by taking the TOEFL test, or by completing a top level ESL program at an ESL school in the USA.
[edit] Transportation
PCC offers many options of transportation. Students can park at PCC lots for $2 per day or $64 per semester.
PCC is accessible by bus, including five Metro Local lines, Metro Rapid, Foothill Transit, and some Pasadena ARTS buses. PCC provides a shuttle to and from the Allen Metro Gold Line station.
[edit] Notable alumni
- Michael Anthony, former bassist and a founding member of Van Halen
- Stan Atkinson, television news reporter and anchor
- Nicholas Brendon, actor (Xander on Buffy the Vampire Slayer)
- Tim Brewster, college football coach
- Octavia E. Butler, science fiction writer
- Kim Carnes, singer, known for her 1981 hit song Bette Davis Eyes
- Tommy Cole, award-winning American make-up artist, and former actor and singer
- Dennis Cooper, poet and novelist
- Michael Cooper, former Los Angeles Lakers basketball player, Coach of LA Sparks of the WNBA
- Clive Cussler, novelist
- Michael Dorn, actor, best known as Worf on Star Trek (PCC connection referenced on South Park episode Fun with Veal)
- Jeff Duran, comedian, radio personality, television personality and actor
- Jaime Escalante, former Garfield High School (Los Angeles) teacher, whose successful math class was dramatized in Stand and Deliver.
- Darrell Evans, major league baseball player
- Judi Evans, actor
- Paul Fussell, literary scholar and social critic, National Book Award winner
- Michelle Hamilton, Playboy playmate
- Jerome Harrison, NFL running back
- William Holden, Academy Award-winning actor
- Michael Holton, former college basketball player
- William Hung, attended PCC after dropping out of UC Berkeley.
- Pierre Koenig, Architect of the iconic Case Study Home No.22 in the Hollywood Hills
- Joyce Kennard, California Supreme Court
- Kenny Loggins, singer and songwriter
- Danella Lucioni, fashion and runway model and actress
- Bob Mackie, fashion designer
- Elizabeth McGrath, artist
- Anthony Miller, former NFL wide receiver
- Carol Merrill, Let's Make a Deal model
- Yura Movsisyan, major league soccer player
- Dennis Muren, film special effects artist
- Nick Nolte, Academy Award nominated actor
- Jack Parsons, rocket scientist, JPL co-founder, and occultist
- Fred Phelps, the pastor and leader of the Westboro Baptist Church. (John Muir College)
- Aaron Proctor, 2007 Pasadena, CA Mayoral candidate and political blogger.
- William Reynolds, actor
- Stan Ridgway, singer, songwriter, composer
- Jackie Robinson, first modern African American in major league baseball, member of the MLB Hall of Fame
- Mack Robinson, Jackie's brother, silver medalist sprinter at the 1936 Olympics as a student from PJC
- David Lee Roth, vocalist of Van Halen
- Betye Saar, artist
- Larry Shinoda, famed automobile designer
- John Singleton, African-American film director, well-known for his film Boyz N the Hood
- Sirhan Sirhan, Robert F. Kennedy's assassin
- Jerry Tarkanian, famed former college basketball coach
- DeWayne Walker, college football coach
- Kirby Wilson, NFL football coach
- Verne Winchell, founder of Winchell's Donuts and former chairman of Denny's Restaurants
- Alex Van Halen, drummer of Van Halen
- Eddie Van Halen, lead guitar of Van Halen
- Matt Young, major league baseball player
[edit] References
- ^ http://www.collegebound.net/college-university-pasadena.html
- ^ JDL: JDL Chairman: College Professor Bitter Over Failure to Bar Rubin From Campus
- ^ Hoffman, Gretchen (March 27), “PCC students, faculty stage protest”, Pasadena Star-News, <http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=PSWB&p_theme=pswb&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0FAEE2ED9FA2BE29&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM>
- ^ http://www.pcccourier.com
- ^ http://www.pcccourier.com
- ^ http://00ebe80.netsolhost.com/pcconline/2007/07/20/news/police-make-plea/
- ^ http://www.pcccourier.com
- ^ Pasadena Star-News - King for a day
- ^ http://www.pcccourier.com
- ^ Football - Pasadena City College
[edit] External links
- Pasadena City College
- PCC Courier (Campus Newspaper)
