Rocklin. Roseville. Grass Valley. Truckee. TV. Online.

Transcription

1 Rocklin. Roseville. Grass Valley. Truckee. TV. Online Rocklin Campus

2 Information in this catalog is subject to change as a result of new or revised curricula, laws, policies or regulations. This catalog is to be used for reference only and is not valid for catalog rights. For information regarding catalog rights, please consult a Sierra College counselor. The information in this Sierra College publication is provided as a service to students. This catalog (text, graphics, and/or images) is protected by copyright and may not be modified, reused, reposted, distributed, downloaded, or otherwise used, in whole or in part, except as provided herein, without the express written permission of Sierra College. You may download content, or print copies of the information, only for your own personal, noncommercial use. All other rights are reserved Sierra College 5000 Rocklin Road, Rocklin, CA (916)

3 Welcome welcome Sierra 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 (415) , an in sti tu tion al ac cred it ing body recognized by the Commission on Recognition of Postsecondary Accreditation and the U.S. Department of Ed u ca tion. Rocklin Campus 5000 Rocklin Road Rocklin, California (916) Nevada County Campus 250 Sierra College Drive Grass Valley, California (530) Tahoe-Truckee Campus College Trail Truckee, California (530) Roseville Gateway Center 333 Sunrise Avenue Roseville, California (916) A Sierra College Publication Information in this catalog is subject to change as a result of new or revised curricula, laws, policies, or regulations. Contact the Office of Instruction for cat a log re vi sions, (916) This catalog may be purchased from Sierra College Bookstores. Please call (916) for further information. sierra College Catalog

4 district mission and outcomes District Mission and Institutional Outcomes Mission Statement Sierra Col lege provides a challenging and sup port ive learning environment for stu dents having diverse goals, abilities and needs interested in transfer, career and technical training, and life long learning. The College s programs and services encourage students to identify and to expand their potential. Sierra College students will develop the knowledge, skills and abilities to become engaged and contributing members of the community. Vision Statement We will challenge ourselves and our community to become fulfilled citizens in a global environment by contributing to and engaging in the thoughtful application of knowledge guided by respect for others and the world in which we live. Core Values The following core values will establish our ethical principles and will guide our institutional decision-making. Sierra Col lege will: 1. Support and model excellence in teaching, learning, scholarship, and creativity. 2. Provide the tools for continuing success in an everchanging world. 3. Provide, and demonstrate the value of, an inclusive community. 4. Demonstrate collaboration in decision making. 5. Foster active citizenship in our community, our nation, and our world. 6. Create and nurture meaningful connections to our community. 7. Recognize that students are active participants in their education. 8. Support and demonstrate the sustainable use of all resources. Student Learning Outcomes Student learning outcomes state the expected knowledge, skills, and abilities students possess as a result of utilizing services and completing a course, a certification or a degree. At Sierra College, instructional programs define student learning outcomes for their content areas and link them to courses, certificates and degrees. Student learning outcomes for individual programs may be found on the Sierra College website. The general education sequence supports students attainment of the colleges institutional outcomes, as do the student learning outcomes for student services. These outcomes align with our district mission, support our vision, and reflect our core values. Institutional Outcomes Students attend Sierra College for a variety of reasons. Based on their own educational goals and experiences, students will develop skills in the following areas: Communication 1. Read Use active reading skills to comprehend and interpret information and ideas from a variety of texts, including academic prose (such as textbooks, literature, primary and secondary sources, and scholarly journals), technical documentation (such as manuals, charts, graphs, and reports), and media sources (such as newspapers, magazines, websites and online databases). 4 sierra College Catalog

5 2. Write Communicate thoughts, ideas, and information effectively in writing in a variety of modes and for a variety of purposes. Accurately and persuasively convey information and ideas using logic, reasoning, and effective rhetorical strategies. Use correct grammar, spelling, punctuation, diction, style, and format. 3. Listen Demonstrate active listening skills in classroom, community, personal, and professional situations. Interpret and respond appropriately to verbal and nonverbal communication in a variety of contexts. 4. Dialogue Interact in a variety of dynamic situations by assessing the needs of the audience, creating a message, adapting to audience feedback, and responding appropriately. Through dialogue, build mutual understanding with individuals from various backgrounds. Technology and Information Competency 1. Demonstrate Technical Literacy Efficiently and accurately use current computer and other relevant technologies to acquire, process, and present information. Organize and maintain records. 2. Apply Technology Use computer applications and other technologies in the learning process, real-world scenarios, and the workplace. Organize and maintain records. 3. Access Information Recognize the need for information; choose and narrow topic. Formulate search questions. Gather, organize, and discriminate among various sources of information. 4. Evaluate and Examine Information Filter information for relevance and accuracy. Apply criteria to determine credibility. Utilize data gathered to draw conclusions. Construct meaning from expanding and conflicting information. Credit sources according to academic standards. 3. Problem Solve Use sound reasoning to specify solutions and consequences. Test hypotheses using methods appropriate to the problem (such as the scientific method, mathematical reasoning, and principles of logic). 4. Express Acquire an appreciation and involvement in the creation or performance of works of fine art, craft, music, drama, and/or culture. Participate in games, sports, dance, and outdoor pursuits based on individual interests and capabilities. Citizenship 1. Ethics Develop and apply ethical reasoning and decision making skills in academics, in the workplace, and in global and local communities. Value honesty, civility, empathy, interpersonal competence, social responsibility, and peaceful conflict resolution. 2. Diversity Recognize, understand, and respect diversity of belief, culture, value, ability, gender, race, age, and sexual orientation. 3. Sustainability/Global Awareness Develop values and behaviors that respect the natural environment. Evaluate social justice issues and identify social responsibilities to elicit social change. Recognize the ethical implications of political, social, and economic institutions. 4. Personal Responsibility Accept personal responsibility by recognizing oneself as the principal cause for opportunities and experiences. Effectively develop, apply and manage a healthy physical lifestyle and emotional well-being; self-motivate through planning and acting to accomplish goals. Recognize the value of lifelong learning. district mission and outcomes Critical and Creative Thinking 1. Inquire Identify and understand questions or problems across disciplines and in practical applications. Develop hypotheses. 2. Analyze Investigate and assess the validity or relevance of arguments, claims, or contentions supported by data, observation, experience, testing or analysis. Distinguish fact from opinion. Develop an interpretation with an awareness of different views and reasoning. sierra College Catalog

6 ACADEMIC Calendar Academic Calendar Fall Semester 2012 Aug. 5 last Day to Apply for Fall 2012 Aug. 20 Sept. 1 3 Sept. 3 Sept. 4 Sept. 14 Sept. 27 INstrUCTION BegiNS Holiday (Labor Day) Last Day to Add Full-Semester Class last Day to Drop from Full-Semester Class without Receiving a W last Day to Drop from Full-Semester Class and Receive a Refund Census Date Deadline to Initiate Credit By examination (Challenge) Last Day to Request Pass/No Pass Grading for Full-Semester Class Oct. 1 last Day to Request December 2012 Degree or Certificate Oct. 30 Nov Nov Dec. 8 Dec. 22 Jan. 6 Last Day to Withdraw from Fullsemester Class and Receive a W Holiday (Veterans Day) Holiday (Thanksgiving) semester Ends Campus Closed Spring Semester 2013 Jan. 5 last Day to Apply for Spring 2013 Jan. 21 Jan. 28 Feb. 10 Feb. 11 Feb Feb. 22 March 1 March 2 March April 18 May 23 May 24 May 25 May 27 Holiday (Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day) INstrUCTION BegiNS Last Day to Add Full-Semester Class last Day to Drop from Full-Semester Class without Receiving a W last Day to Drop from Full-Semester Class and Receive a Refund Census Date Holiday (Presidents Weekend) Deadline to Initiate Credit By examination (Challenge) Last Day to Request May and/or Aaugust 2013 Degree or Certificate Last Day to Request Pass/No Pass Grading for Full-Semester Class Spring Break, Campus Closed Last Day to Withdraw from Fullsemester Class and Receive a W Commencement Nevada County Campus Commencement Rocklin Campus Semester Ends Holiday (Memorial Day) Summer 2013 June 10 INstrUCTION BegiNS July 4 Aug. 3 Holiday (Independence Day) end of Summer Classes This calendar is subject to change. Each short-term or fast-track class has its own add, drop, withdrawal, refund, and pass/no pass grading deadlines. Contact a campus Admissions and Records Office or check the Sierra College website for registration information. 6 sierra College Catalog

7 Table of Contents Mission Statement and Institutional Outcomes Academic Calendar A Brief History of Sierra College General Information Admission Matriculation and Registration Academic and Transfer Credit Programs Student Enrollment and Attendance Academic Regulations Student Services and Resources Financial Aid Student Activities Degree and Certificate Information Associate Degree Requirements Degree Programs Certificate Programs California State University G.E. Breadth IGETC Intersegmental General Education Transfer Curriculum Transferable Courses to CSU System Transferable Courses to UC System Course Disciplines and Abbreviations Understanding Course Descriptions Course Descriptions and Programs Students Rights and Responsibilities Academic Freedom Policy Administration, Faculty and Staff Advisory Committees Maps Index table of contents sierra College Catalog

8 history A Brief History of Sierra College The origin of Sierra College is somewhat uncertain. Some have said that the College may have begun with the establishment of Sierra Normal College and Business Institute in It was a small, private college at the location of today s Placer High School in Auburn. Most think that Sierra College is an outgrowth of the Placer Union High School District. In 1914, the Placer Union High School District was born, stretching from Loomis to Lake Tahoe. That same year, college-level classes were offered. The new college was named Placer Junior College. It was the fourth oldest junior college in California at the time and only one of nine statewide; the faculty numbered four. Due to enrollment loss caused by World War I, Placer Junior College was abandoned by 1920, but the college idea never completely died. In 1936, the college was reestablished, again in Auburn, with the enthusiastic support of local voters. It is 1936 that Sierra College uses as its official date of birth. Three wings of buildings were constructed to serve primarily Placer Junior College, but Placer High School students shared many of the facilities, instructors and organizational structure with the new college. Enrollment numbered about 100 and the college athletes went by the name Spartans. The college grew steadily and by 1938, 200 students were enrolled. Enrollment crested at 282 in 1939, but events quickly overtook the college in the 1940s. The 1941 attack on Pearl Harbor essentially ended enrollment by men as many went off to serve their country. Additionally, enrollment dropped significantly when Japanese-Americans were forced into internment camps. The student population dropped to 53 by The college eliminated the Junior from its name, becoming Placer College. The war s end brought returning veterans, the end of internment, and the GI Bill of Rights. Enrollment in the post-war years exploded as a result saw 467 students about half were veterans. 856 were enrolled in 1949 and the Placer College facility was bursting at the seams. The College had reached full capacity, and efforts to find a new college location began. Area population continued to grow and the need for new facilities grew acute. In 1953, Placer College was renamed Sierra College and its athletes gained a new nickname the Wolverines. In 1957, the new Sierra Junior College District successfully passed a bond measure to pay for new facilities. In 1958, a site selection committee considered thirty-five possible locations and the present Rocklin site was chosen. By 1961, the new Rocklin campus opened and enrollment reached 1,500. In 1962, Nevada County joined Placer County in forming a huge new Sierra Junior College District, which then had more square miles 3,200 than students. Enrollment boomed in the 1960s. By the end of the decade, Sierra College boasted 100 full-time faculty members and nine new campus buildings. Enrollment was nearly 4,000. However, as fast as new facilities could sierra College Catalog

9 history be built, they were filled. The next several decades saw significant student population growth. From 1970 to 1990, enrollment jumped from 4,000 to nearly 14,000, and, by the year 2000, the college enrolled approximately 18,000 students. In 1996, the 105-acre Nevada County Campus was opened. Twelve locations had been considered in that county until property between Grass Valley and Nevada City was chosen. Leased centers were opened in the Tahoe/Truckee and Roseville areas. Classes were also taught at local high schools and community centers. In recent years, successful bond issues provided for an expansion of the Nevada County Campus and the creation of a permanent Tahoe-Truckee Campus. In 2008, the Tahoe-Truckee campus inaugurated its brand-new facilities. Located on beautiful McIver Hill next to Interstate 80, the state-of-the-art green campus overlooks historic Truckee. In 2007, the Lincoln Public Library at Twelve Bridges opened. This library is a joint venture between the City of Lincoln, the Western Placer Unified School District, and Sierra College. Also, in 2008, a new Mathematics and Technology Building was constructed on the Rocklin campus. In 2010, as the result of the passage of the voterapproved Measure G Bond in November 2004, new buildings on the Nevada County Campus opened, including a computer lab and buildings for the arts and public safety. Sierra College continues to be in the vanguard of innovative projects. The award-winning mechatronics training program is a national leader in cutting-edge electronics and robotics. The groundbreaking Sierra College Press is widely regarded as the only complete academic press operated by a community college in the United States. Sierra College s outstanding academic reputation, excellent technologies and training programs, and updated facilities led to increases in student enrollment. Projections of future for credit enrollment top 25,000. The Sierra Community College District includes all of Placer and Nevada Counties and part of El Dorado and Sacramento Counties. In recent years, Placer and Nevada Counties have been two of California s fastest growing areas. The College District continues to experience dramatic growth and change. The future is bright as new technologies evolve, offering greater educational accessibility for students both today and tomorrow. Since its first days, the promise of Sierra College has been to provide a challenging and supportive learning environment for students having diverse goals, abilities, and needs interested in transfer, career and technical training, and life long learning. The College continues this mission as it adapts to meet the ever-changing needs of students sierra College Catalog

10 general information General Information Instructional Programs General Education: A range of courses to help stu dents gain breadth of knowledge about the en vi ron ment, nat u- ral sciences, social and behavioral sciences, humanities, English, com mu ni ca tion and analytical thinking, awareness of cultural differences, and the importance of maintain ing health and fitness. Educational Programs: Organized sequences of courses leading to a defined objective, a degree, a certificate, a diploma, a license, or transfer to another institution of higher education. Transfer Curriculum: Courses that meet general ed u cation and lower-division major re quire ments equivalent to the first two years at a four-year uni ver si ty to which students may trans fer with junior standing. Career and Technical Education: Certificates and degrees designed to prepare stu dents for entry into professional level em ploy ment opportunities, or update job skills in the rapidly changing workplace. Basic Skills: Both nondegree-applicable credit courses and noncredit courses in reading, writing, computation, and English as a Second Language (ESL). Contract Course: Course offered under a contract pursuant to Educational Code with a public or private agency, corporation, association, or other organization. Center for Applied Competitive Technologies (CACT): Serves small to medium sized manufacturing and technology companies by providing technical assistance, technology transfer, and workforce training. Services are delivered via demonstration sites, workshops, and business consulting. For further information see the website at Community Education Program: Provides convenient classes and activities to meet the needs and interests of our diverse community for enrichment and personal and professional growth. The Kaleidoscope schedule of not-forcredit, fee-based classes is published in spring, summer, and fall. Classes are offered in areas of business, career, computers, creative arts, food and wine, health, home and garden, and many other current interest subjects. Additionally, special activities such as sports camps, motorcycle training, traffic school, bus trips and extensive travel are offered. Classes are open for the admission of adults and those minors who, in the judgment of the governing board, may benefit from the program. Students shall be charged a fee not to exceed the cost of maintaining the classes. For further information see the Community Education website at Distance Learning: Online and television courses which allow students to complete college studies from the convenience of their home. Online courses may be accessed from anywhere at anytime through an Internet connection. Hybrid courses, which are a combination of online and on-ground formats, are also offered. Television courses are broadcast live and distributed to various cable companies within the District, streamed live on the Internet, and available on itunes U. Students interact with the professor via telephone. Field Trips: Trips sponsored by the various instructional divisions to provide students with the enriching experience of visiting such locations as the Sierra Nevada, the ocean, and the desert. Additional fees may be assessed. Internship Program: Work site learning which provides students an opportunity for hands-on experience, application of classroom learning and exploration and development of skills and knowledge in a particular field or profession. Sierra College offers a two-level internship program. The lower level, called Internship 94, is a Career Exploration internship in which the primary focus is for a student to learn more about a particular field or profession, without extensive previous knowledge or experience. The upper level placements, called Internship 95, are designed for advanced students to expand their knowledge and skills in an area related to their college major. Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI): Provides noncredit, tuition-free instruction specifically designed to serve the interests of adults 55+ years of age. Classes are 10 sierra College Catalog

11 short term, typically four to six weeks in length. A variety of course topics are offered, including art, film, fitness, music, nutrition, and literature. For further information see the OLLI website at Short-term or Fast-track Classes: Classes not a full semester in duration. Each class des ig nat ed short-term or fast-track has its own add, drop, withdrawal, refund, and pass/no pass dead lines. Student Ser vic es Counseling Services: Professional counselors pro vide assistance with vocational and academic assessments, career planning, course advisement, transfer assistance and personal counseling. Support Services: Ser vic es include admissions and records, financial aid, scholarships, housing, tutoring, EOPS/CARE, CalWORKs, TRiO, health ser vic es and sup port for dis abled stu dents, international students and veterans. Governance The Sierra College community determines its ed u ca tion al and other pol i cies through a shared governance pro cess in volv ing stu dents, classified support staff, faculty and administration. A senate formed by each group advocates the group s in ter ests. Each organization represents its constituency with a formal voice in determining educational policy, procedures, and regulations as well as coordinating representatives on committees and councils. The Student Senate ac tive ly rep re sents the students in the Col lege s com mit tee work and plan ning. The or ga niza tion also promotes student activities and clubs as well as providing in for ma tion on cur rent events for the student body. The Classified Senate represents the College s sup port staff on professional matters. The Academic Senate, under authority from Title 5 of the California Code of Regulations, represents all faculty on academic and professional matters. The Management Senate represents educational administrators, supervisory, and confidential employees on professional matters. The Strategic Council consists of five representatives from each of the constituency groups. The purpose of the Council is to present and discuss the concerns and interests of the constituent groups; to collaborate with the Superintendent/President by conveying the interests of the constituent groups on the strategic direction of the college; to share in decision-making by advising the Superintendent/President in the development of policies and procedures; and to assist in disseminating information to the college community. The Board of Trustees is the elected governing body of the Si er ra Joint Community Col lege District and has the final authority to es tab lish pol i cy for cur rent and longrange educational plans and programs, promote orderly growth and development, and ensure fiscal responsibility. Board Policies and Administrative Procedures may be found at Advisory Committees To insure that meaningful curricula in the two-year career technical pro grams are maintained, ad vi so ry commit tees, com prised of spe cial ists in the sub ject matter area, meet to advise on pro gram em pha sis and change. See individual committee membership, page 289. Sierra College Foundation The Foundation was established in 1972 to rec og nize and en cour age charitable gifts from alum ni, par ents, friends, community members, and businesses in support of Si er ra Col lege students and programs. As an in de pen dent, nonprofit corporation dedicated to project development, student assistance and educational achievement, the Foundation is supported by financial contributions (cash, stocks, planned gifts, me mo ri als, be quests, real estate, trusts) and activities (wine and food tastings, auctions, golf tour na ments, dinners, the auto fair and oth er fundrais ing events). Currently, the Foundation is working to establish an endowment to generate funds in perpetuity to help students in need a Fund that helps students facing one-time emergencies (e.g., car repairs, temporary housing, medical care, food, book vouchers) so that students may remain in school. Do na tions are channeled to ward stu dent assistance and schol ar ships, technology upgrades, fa cil i ty projects and oth er campus needs. For in for ma tion, check the website at edu/foundation, call the Foun da tion Office at (916) , or write to the Sierra Col lege Foun da tion, 5000 Rocklin Road, Rocklin, CA Speakers Bureau The Speakers Bureau is designed to acquaint community members with Sierra College and its fine staff. Fac ulty and staff are available to address a variety of timely subjects at meetings of community groups and organi zations. For information, contact Marketing/Public Rela tions, (916) general information sierra College Catalog

12 Admission Admission Eligibility Admission to Sierra College is open to any per son who: 1. Has a high school diploma, GED, or passed the high school proficiency examination, or 2. Is over 18 years of age and capable of profiting from instruction. Admission Pro ce dures All new students and students returning to Si er ra Col lege after an absence of one or more se mes ters must sub mit an application for admission prior to registering for classes. Sierra College has application deadlines for the fall and spring semesters. Students applying after a deadline will be admitted for the subsequent term. Electronic ap pli cations are available online at Paper applications, also available in Spanish and Russian, may be obtained online or requested at a campus Admissions & Records Office. Additional admission information in Spanish and Russian is also available online. High school and col lege tran scripts are not re quired for ad mis sion; how ev er, stu dents are en cour aged to bring cop ies when they meet with coun se lors for ad vis ing. Each semester the college offers registration op por tu nities to those who file an application for ad mis sion and com plete the matriculation process. Dates are pub lished online or may be ob tained by calling (916) or (530) Residency Re quire ments For the purpose of determining tuition and en roll ment fees, Si er ra College stu dents are subject to the le gal res i- dence restrictions established by the California legislature. Res i den cy is de ter mined at the time of ad mis sion and requires a statement of legal residence. Supporting documen ta tion may also be re quired. California res i den cy shall be established for students who qual i fy under one of the fol low ing conditions: 1. If 19 years of age or over, has resided in Cal i for nia and has man i fest ed the intent to make Cal i for nia their res i dence for at least one year and one day pri or to the beginning of the semester. 2. If 18 years of age and both the student and the student s par ent or legal guard ian have resided in Cal i- for nia and have manifested the intent to make Cal i for nia their res i dence for at least one year and one day pri or to the be gin ning of the se mes ter. 3. If under 18 years of age and the stu dent s par ent or le gal guard ian has resided in Cal i for nia and has man i- fest ed the intent to make California their res i dence for at least one year and one day pri or to the be gin ning of the semester. Any student not meeting one of the above re quire ments will be clas si fied a nonresident. Regulations allow certain students to apply for nonresident tuition waivers. Contact the Admissions & Records Office for further information. photo: randy snook 12 sierra College Catalog

13 Nonresident stu dents who wish to re ap ply for res i den t sta tus must submit a new residency state ment. Residency documents should be submitted to a campus Admissions & Records Office the se mes ter prior to the change of status. Priority Application Deadlines: Fall semester...july 1 Spring semester... December 1 Summer sessions...may 1 (for students transferring from another U.S. college) Admission International Students International stu dents attend Sierra College from around the world. Each se mes ter more than 47 dif fer ent countries are rep re sent ed at the col lege. Regardless of TOEFL scores, all students take assessment tests to determine placement in appropriate courses. Based on test results, college-level and/or ESL courses will be recommended. Assistance with the application and registration process is provided by the In ter na tion al Stu dents Office (ISO), lo cat ed in the J Building, Room 8. Con tact the ISO di rect ly for application ma te ri als at (916) , internationalstudents@sierracollege.edu or ac cess international student information and ap pli ca tion forms on the col lege web site at In ter na tion al stu dents wish ing to apply for study to the col lege on an F-1 visa must sub mit the fol low ing to the International Students Office: 1. A completed Sierra College International Stu dent Application. 2. Meet at least one of the following English Lan guage Requirements: Score at least 133 com put er-based or 45 ibt on the TOEFL exam. OR Enroll in the English as a Second Lan guage (ESL) program at Sierra College. This requirement is waived for students from coun tries that use En glish as the primary language in their educational systems. 3. An of fi cial bank statement (in English) dated within three months indicating that there are sufficient funds available to cover tuition ex pens es (minimum $16, U.S. dollars). 4. Official transcripts translated into English indicating successful completion at a secondary school equivalent to com ple tion of an Amer i can high school and transcripts from any colleges or universities attended. 5. A copy of valid passport (photo page). 6. A non-refundable application processing fee of $ pay able to Sierra College in the form of a MasterCard or Visa credit card, wire transfer, cashier s check, or check drawn on a U.S. bank (do not send cash). The $ will be cred it ed toward tu ition at the time of registration. NOTE: Prior to arriving in the United States, prospective students shall submit to Sierra College proof of freedom from tuberculosis dated no more than 90 days before the start of classes. This report must be professionally translated to English. Mandatory Sierra College Health Insurance All international students attending Sierra College must purchase mandatory health in sur ance. There are no ex cep tions, even for students who have health insurance through their home coun tries. Other Important Health Information When traveling from coun try to country, a stu dent may be ex posed to different dis eas es. Sierra College strong ly encourages the following immunizations: Tetanus, Measles and Rubella. Academic En rich ment Sierra College provides part-time and full-time ad mis sion to stu dents who have completed the tenth grade, are 16 years of age by the first day of instruction and have a GPA of 2.7 or above. Students must submit a Sierra College ap pli ca tion for admission and an Academic En rich ment Permission Form each semester. En roll ment must be recommended by the school principal or counselor, and have the consent of a parent or guardian. Students should be counseled by the high school staff to determine the courses in which they should enroll. Specific courses in which students may not enroll are published online; see the Academic Enrichment Restricted Course List. Stu dents admitted under these provisions are subject to all college rules and regulations and are not eligible for student employment. Contact a campus Admissions & Records Office for more in for ma tion. sierra College Catalog

14 Matriculation and Registration Matriculation and Registration Matriculation means, The steps one takes to get to and through college. At Sierra College, Ma tric u la tion is an agreement between the college and each student as to the steps both will take to help ensure the student succeeds. Agreement: Sierra College will: Assess students basic educational skills and career goals Orient students to the college s programs, services and policies Provide top-quality instruction and services Offer a wide variety of courses Offer services to support students education Follow up on students progress toward educational goals Students will: Participate in Assessment and Orientation Declare an educational goal Meet with a counselor to design an educational plan Attend classes and complete assigned coursework Seek out support services as needed Strive to make progress toward goals Matriculation and Registration: Students should complete as sess ment, orientation and counseling prior to registration. New stu dents must complete orientation and counseling in order to register for classes. Assessment: Assessment in reading, English and mathematics is required if prerequisites have not been fulfilled by taking the prerequisite course. Assessment results are used to determine student skill levels and place students in appropriate courses. The Assessment Center also of fers English as a Second Language (ESL) and Ability to Benefit (ATB) testing. Orientation: Orientation is delivered online through mysierra and provides information about pro grams, services and registration pro ce dures. Students who complete orientation are prepared to meet with a counselor. Counseling: Students meet with a counselor to develop their educational plans. Counselors may also refer students to support services and answer specific questions and concerns. Exemptions: Some students are exempt from the requirements of Matriculation. Nevertheless, stu dents are encouraged to avail them selves of these services. Students are exempt if they meet any of the fol low ing criteria: Hold an associate or higher degree; Apply with a selected educational goal of educational development; Apply with a selected educational goal of maintain certificate or license; or Apply with a selected educational goal of advance in current job/career. Students who have completed assessment at an oth er college can have that step waived by submitting the assessment results to a campus Assessment or Counseling Office. Challenges or Appeals to Matriculation: Students may request a waiver of any ma tric u la tion requirement due to extraordinary cir cum stanc es; or may review the regulations cov er ing matriculation and file a complaint if the stu dent believes any of these regulations are not being met. All complaints, appeals, or requests for information should be di rect ed to the Counseling Office in the Winstead Center on the Rocklin campus. photo: daryl stinchfield 14 sierra College Catalog

15 Continuing and Former Student Registration Registration appointments are available through mysierra for con tinu ing and former Sierra College stu dents. Students re turn ing after an absence of one se mes ter or more must have a current application on file to receive an ap point ment. Registration priority is based upon the total number of units com plet ed at Si er ra College. Continuing students with the most units re ceive the earliest ap pointments. Stu dents can reg is ter at the des ig nat ed date and time or at any time there af ter during sched uled hours of reg is tra tion. Stu dents are encouraged to use mysierra web registration at during their scheduled ap point ment time to ensure the best pos si ble course se lec tion. Contact a campus Admissions & Records Office for assistance with registration. Disabled students (physical, hearing, or learning) should con tact the Disabled Student Programs and Services Office to make ar range ments for advising and registration. Add/Drop Period Reg is tra tion is available during the first two weeks of the fall and spring semesters. Per mis sion to add must be obtained from the class professor. The professor supplies each student with a 4-digit add code that allows the student to add the course through mysierra web registration or in person at a campus Ad mis sions & Records Office. All fees must be paid at the time of registration. Re fer to the website for reg is tra tion details and dead line dates and times. Note: Students must complete the matriculation process prior to registering for classes. Under no circumstances will class registration be processed after the withdrawal deadline. Payment Information Fees and tuition are due at the time of registration. Students are given a ten calendar day grace period, after which they will be dropped from classes for nonpayment. Students registering less than ten days before the beginning of the semester must pay all fees prior to the first day of the term. reserves the right to use methods permitted by law to collect fees due, including referral to a collection agency. For further information, visit payment. En roll ment Fee Sierra College charg es a State-man dat ed en roll ment fee of $46.00 per unit each semester. Fees, especially those established by the California State Legislature, are subject to change. Recipients of CalWORKs, SSI/SSP, Gen er al As sistance, or qual i fied de pen dents of de ceased or disabled veter ans may be ex empt from the en roll ment fee. Check with the Fi nan cial Aid Office at least one week prior to reg istra tion for fee cred its, fee waiv ers, grants and other means of financial assistance. Health Fee The mandatory health fee provides enrolled stu dents with a range of med i cal services at the Sierra College Health Centers. The health fee is charged as fol lows: $19.00 per semester for stu dents enrolled in fall or spring se mes ter class(es); $16.00 for stu dents enrolled in summer session class(es) Exemptions are given for: Recipients of Board of Governor s fee waivers, Methods A and B ; Students enrolled exclusively in contract education classes, noncredit classes, or Public Safety In-Service Training classes; Students enrolled in the District s Academic Enrichment Program; Students exclusively auditing classes; Students who are dependent upon prayer for heal ing (contact an Admissions & Records Office for the ex emp tion form prior to registration). Matriculation and Registration Fees and Holds Students owing fees after the start of a semester will have holds placed on their records. Students with holds for unpaid fees, fines, etc., must clear the holds before any future reg is tra tion will be permitted. Sierra College photo: patricia echeverri sierra College Catalog

16 Matriculation and Registration Instructional Materials Fee Students may be required to provide instructional and other materials for a credit or noncredit course. Approved instructional materials and related fees are published in the schedule of classes. Instructional Materials Fees are collected at the time of registration. Nonresident Student Tu ition Under state law, all community colleges are re quired to charge tuition to out-of-state residents and in ter na tion al students. The charge for the cat a log year is $ per unit. Nonresident tu ition is in ad di tion to the enrollment fee. Legislation allows a waiver of nonres i dent tuition for students meeting the following cri te ria: Attended a Cal i- for nia high school for at least three years and one of the following: Graduated from a California high school; Earned a Cal i for nia GED; or Passed the California high school proficiency examination. Undocumented aliens are also eligible for this waiver if, in addition to the above criteria, they have ap plied for legalization or intend to do so as soon as they become el i gi ble. Contact an Admissions & Records Office for information. Nonresident Student Capital Outlay Fee In addition to the enrollment fee and nonresident student tuition, nonresident students must pay a Nonresident Student Capital Outlay Fee of $18.00 per unit. This fee is mandatory unless students can show economic hardship. Students wishing to apply for an economic hardship waiver must submit the completed paperwork to an Admissions & Records Office. Definition of Economic Hardship: Victim of persecution or discrimination in the foreign country in which the applicant is a citizen and resident, or who is a recipient of benefits under the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program, the Supplemental Income/State Supplementary Program, or a general assistance program. Parking Fee Every vehicle using the Rocklin, Nevada Coun ty, or Tahoe-Truckee cam pus park ing fa cil i ties must display a valid park ing permit, clear ly vis i ble through the driverside, front wind shield of the ve hi cle, or a val id DMV dis abled per son license plate or placard. Permits may be pur chased at a campus Admissions & Records Office or from the campus Parking & Security Ser vic es Office on the Rocklin campus. Stu dents re ceiv ing fi nan cial aid may be el i gi ble to purchase a permit for a re duced fee. Con tact the Fi nan cial Aid Of fice for de tails. Regular Semester Fee: Standard Permit Rocklin and Nevada County..$50.00 Standard Permit Tahoe-Truckee Standard Permit Financial Aid Eligible Carpool Permit Motorcycle Permit Summer Session: Standard Permit All Campuses...$25.00 Standard Permit Financial Aid Eligible Carpool Permit Motorcycle Permit Daily permits are available for $3.00 per day at per mit dispensers located in parking lots. Parking permits are non-transferable. A park ing per mit does not guar an tee that a parking space will be avail able. Citations will be is sued to ve hi cles with out permits and for violations of district policy and state law. For more information re gard ing park ing fees, rules, or re funds, contact the Parking and Security Services Office at (916) , or visit the website at 16 sierra College Catalog

17 Student Body Photo ID Card/Activity Sticker Students who have paid all registration fees are eligible for Student Body Photo Identification Cards. The cards are issued at either the Rocklin, Nevada County or Tahoe-Truckee Campus Admissions & Records Office. Students are required to have the photo ID to check out materials at the Sierra College Library and to use the Mathematics Laboratory, Testing Center, and Instructional Laboratories. There is no fee for the ID card. A Student Body Activity Sticker may be purchased each fall and spring semester for $ The sticker, when affixed to the ID card, provides student discounts at campus activities, performances, and athletic events, discounts at local participating businesses, and access to wireless Internet service at specific locations on campus. The sticker may be purchased at the Rocklin or Nevada County Campus Admissions and Records Office. Contact the Rocklin Campus Life Office at (916) for further details including refund information. Student Center Fee The mandatory Student Center Fee is designated solely for the purpose of funding and operating a student center. The fee, charged for the fall and spring semesters, is $1.00 per unit, to a maximum of $5.00 per se mes ter. Ex emp tions are given to: Recipients of Board of Governor s Fee Waivers; and Students enrolled exclusively in noncredit courses. Additional Semester Expenses* The following are approximate costs of other fees and ex pens es for a full-time student for one se mes ter: Room and Board (on-campus)...$3, Books and Supplies Transportation (by car) Personal (clothes, recreation, etc.) *These are es ti mates and are subject to change. Personal expenses vary with individual needs and tastes. professors after the census day. Nonresident Student Tuition is refund able for re duc tion of unit load if the stu dent with draws from full-semester classes during the first two weeks of a semester. Shortterm classes have their own deadlines. One-half of Nonresident Student Tu ition is re fund able if the student with draws from Sierra College with in the first six weeks of a se mes ter, or the first two weeks of a summer session. Parking Permit Applications for refunds will be ac cept ed during the first two weeks of a semester or the first three days of a summer session. Ap pli cants must present their park ing per mit to a campus Parking & Security Ser vic es Office along with a com plet ed park ing re fund re quest form. Al low six weeks for re fund. American Opportunity and Lifetime Learning Education Tax Credits In accordance with the Taxpayer Relief Act of 1997, Sierra College mails Tax Form 1098-T at the end of January to each student who paid enrollment fees in the prior calendar year and who was officially enrolled as of the course census date. This information is also provided to the IRS. It is the student s responsibility to provide proof of payment in accordance with IRS regulations. Please check with a tax preparer to determine if you are eligible for either of these tax credits or contact the IRS directly at (800) or at The records of students who have chosen an assigned identification number are not reported. Matriculation and Registration Refunds Enrollment, health and student center fees are refundable to stu dents who are dropped or drop themselves from full-term classes by the published deadline. For specific short-term class refund dead lines, stu dents should refer to their printed student schedule/bill, check their mysierra account, con tact their pro fes sor or contact an Ad mis sions & Records Office. Note: Refunds are not issued to students who drop or are dropped from classes by their sierra College Catalog

18 Academic and Transfer Credit Programs Academic and Transfer Credit Programs Advanced Placement Examination Sierra College accepts Advanced Place ment Ex aminations passed with a score of three or high er. Cur rent ly en rolled students may be awarded up to six units of credit per exam upon submission of official exam results. The amount of cred it awarded is based on the recommendations of the American Council on Education. Credit is award ed for a Sierra College course or cours es; as general education credit toward one or more areas of the associate degree; or as elective cred it. Transfer students are cautioned that, re gard less of Si erra College pol i cy, some institutions determine Ad vanced Place ment credit based on their own lo cal policies and may recalculate credit. For further in for ma tion please con sult a coun se lor. To re quest cred it, stu dents must submit a General Stu dent Pe ti tion and re quest that the College Board send of fi cial Ad vanced Place ment Examination re sults to a Sierra Col lege Ad mis sions & Records Office (Col lege Code 4697). Air Force ROTC Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps is available to Sierra College students through a program offered at California State University, Sacramento. The CSUS Department of Aerospace Studies offers three- and four-year programs leading to a commission in the United States Air Force. All coursework is completed on the CSUS campus. Qualified students may compete for a very limited number of nationwide scholarships. Application to the program should be no later than the first semester of the sophomore year. Juniors may apply under certain conditions. Contact the CSUS Recruiting Flight Commander at (916) for information. College-Level Examination Pro gram (CLEP) Students with scores of 500 or better on Col lege-lev el Ex am i na tion Pro gram (CLEP) tests covering the general areas of Social Sci ences and History, Hu man i ties and Natural Sciences may re ceive 6 units of elec tive credit for each score; a max i mum of 18 units may be granted. To re quest credit, students must sub mit a Gen er al Stu dent Pe ti tion and an of fi cial copy of the exam scores to a campus Ad mis sions & Records Of fice. Cred it grant ed has no bearing on the stu dent s GPA. Stu dents must com plete 12 units at Sierra before CLEP cred it will be award ed. CSU GE-Breadth and IGETC Certifications Students transferring to California State Uni ver si ties have the option of completing the CSU General Education- 18 sierra College Catalog

19 Breadth pattern to meet lower-division general education requirements. Students admitted to a CSU campus with full certification may not be held to any additional lowerdivision general education requirements. Upon transfer, students must take nine units of upper-division general education courses. The Intersegmental General Education Transfer Curric u lum (IGETC) provides an option for students to fulfill lower-division general education requirements before transferring to either a CSU or a UC campus. Students transferring to a CSU campus may choose to use the CSU GE-Breadth pattern in lieu of IGETC, as all of the IGETC coursework is embedded in the CSU GE- Breadth pattern. Students may use certain Advanced Placement (AP) Examinations with scores of 3 or higher and International Baccalaureate (IB) Examinations with scores of 5 or higher to meet areas of the CSU GE-Breadth and IGETC. The CSU GE-Breadth and IGETC courses are approved annually for the academic year. If a course is taken before it is approved or after it is removed, it cannot be used to satisfy CSU or UC transfer general education. The CSU GE-Breadth and IGETC course lists for all California Community Colleges are available at www. assist.org. Students must request that a General Education Certification or an IGETC Certification be sent to the transfer institution along with the final Sierra College tran script. Students pursuing majors with extensive lower-division unit requirements, such as Engineering, are advised to focus on completing the pre-major requirements while meeting minimum admission requirements. See a coun selor for more in for ma tion on either of these transfer general education certification programs. Honors Courses Many courses offered at Sierra College may, with the instructor s permission, be taken for Honors credit. Students who are interested in a more challenging classroom experience may contract with a willing instructor for honors credit. Completion by a student of the Honors contract together with an earned course grade of A or B will result in a notation on the student s transcript indicating that the course was passed With Honors. For more information, visit International Transcript Acceptance Students wishing to receive credit at Sierra College for courses completed at an international in sti tu tion must re quest and pay for an eval u a tion of their international transcript(s) through one of the following agen cies: Educational Records Eval u a tion Service In ter na tion al Education Re search Foundation, Inc. World Education Services, Inc. The evaluation must include a course by course review which determines se mes ter unit value, grade and lower/ upper di vi sion sta tus. In most cases, stu dents are grant ed Academic and Transfer Credit Programs photo: daryl stinchfield sierra College Catalog

20 Academic and Transfer Credit Programs elec tive cred it only for lower di vi sion course work complet ed at in ter na tion al institutions. No credit is granted for upper-di vi sion courses. Stu dents wishing to be granted credit for specific general education/learning skills or ma jor cours es must submit course de scrip tions in En glish with course substitution petitions. Military Service Credit A veteran who was on active duty one year or long er and received an honorable discharge may re quest 2 units of health education and 3 units of elec tive credit for mil i tary ser vice to be ap plied to ward an as so ci ate degree. Cred it will not trans fer to a four-year university and will have no bear ing on the stu dent s GPA. To request credit, stu dents must submit a Gen er al Student Pe ti tion and a DD-214 form to an Admissions & Records Of fice. Stu dents must com plete 12 units at Si er ra be fore military credit may be awarded. Veterans receiving VA educational benefits through the Sierra Col lege Veterans Services Office must apply for mil i tary cred it by the end of their second semester of en roll ment, re gard less of the number of units com plet ed at Sierra. Study Abroad Since the Study Abroad Program began at Si er ra College in 1986, a num ber of our students have pur sued sum mer or semester studies in Argentina, Australia, Austria, Chi na, Costa Rica, En gland, France, Greece, Italy, Mexico, Peru and Spain. Stu dents have earned cred it for ac a dem ic work while learn ing about another culture through direct experience. Courses are taught by Sierra College faculty, with foreign in struc tors teach ing as nec es sary. Most courses taught abroad trans fer to four-year col leg es and uni ver sities through out the U.S. as part of the ar tic u lat ed Cal i fornia Com mu ni ty Col lege cur ric u lum. To learn about foreign study opportunities, con tact Christine Vona, Study Abroad Co or di na tor, (916) Transfer Credit Acceptance Official transcripts from regionally accredited institutions will be evaluated for all lower-division degree-applicable credit courses. Appropriate units and subject content will be applied to major and general education areas to meet graduation requirements. Students who completed courses at other colleges should meet with a counselor to determine which courses fulfill Sierra College s degree or certificate requirements. Transfer credit is also used to fulfill prerequisite requirements. To ensure timely and accurate posting of transfer units to your Sierra College record, please submit a sealed official transcript to a campus Admissions & Records Office Articulation Pro gram 2+2 Articulation is a planned process link ing pro grams and ser vic es to assist students in mak ing smooth transi tions from secondary to postsecondary lev els without ex pe ri enc ing de lays or duplication of learn ing. 2+2 ar tic u la tion agree ments have been developed with many area high school and ROP programs which make it possible for students to gain college credit for spec i fied courses once they have enrolled at Sierra College and have completed other requirements of the agreement. Contact a counseling office for further information. Transfer Articulation Agreements Sierra College maintains formal articulation agreements with many transfer colleges and uni ver si ties. These agreements spec i fy how cours es will be accepted at the transfer in sti tu tions. Articulation agreements with California State University and University of California campuses may be viewed at this information should be interpreted with the assistance of a Sierra College counselor. 20 sierra College Catalog