Oxnard College

Overview

Oxnard College is located in Oxnard, California. It was established in 1975. It serves the Oxnard Plain cities of Oxnard, Camarillo, and the town of Port Hueneme. The college offers two year degrees, including the new California transfer curriculum, as well as career and technical education programs to the local community. The Dental hygienist program consistently ranks in the top of the 5 U.S. programs. Due to its location between the two stations of the Naval Base Ventura County, it is popular among the military personnel stationed there to attend classes.

The college formerly had a television channel, OCTV, which aired educational programming in the Oxnard and Port Hueneme area on Time Warner Cable and Fios. Currently, due to California state budget cuts, OCTV is inactive.

The college lies on a flat plain next to College Park, where the annual California Strawberry Festival is held. Because of the school has not yet grown to the capacity of the site, much of the unused land is leased to nurseries to raise semi-tropical plants in Oxnard's Mediterranean climate. A well-established native plant garden lies near the center of the campus, and changing art exhibits can be seen at the McNish Art Gallery. Numerous student artists display work throughout campus. The college mascot is the Condor. The school colors are royal blue and kelley green.

Oxnard College is part of the Ventura County Community College District along with Moorpark College, and Ventura College.

History

Historically, the need for a community college serving the Oxnard Plain has been recognized by the Oxnard, Camarillo, and Port Hueneme communities and the governing board and administration of the Ventura County Community College District, since the district was formed in 1962.

Founded on the understanding established in those early years, the 118 acre college site was purchased in 1968. In 1969, the first classes offered under an Oxnard Center concept were offered at Ramona School in Oxnard. The Oxnard Center program expanded in the fall of 1973 with the opening of the Oxnard Educational Center at 9th and B streets in Oxnard, under the direction of Ventura College; in February, 1974, a Camarillo Center opened under the auspices of Moorpark College.The 2000 AD Educational Master Plan and strong support from the Oxnard-Port Hueneme area focused attention on the need for a third college in the spring of 1974, and trustees officially voted to build Oxnard College on March 26, 1974.The college officially opened its doors in June, 1975, for its first summer session, utilizing the Oxnard and Camarillo centers begun by the other two colleges in the district, and adding classes at a variety of sites throughout the Oxnard Plain.

By mid-fall, 1975, Oxnard College had more than 4,400 students enrolled and during the spring semester that number was even higher—in all likelihood a record enrollment for first-year community colleges in this state.In fall, 1979, the first two permanent buildings were occupied on the campus. A Liberal Arts building houses 20 classrooms plus science and business laboratories and faculty office wings, and a Library/Learning Resources Center holds the college Library, Learning Center, general classrooms, and administrative and student services offices.The more recently constructed Occupational Education Building houses the college's information processing, air conditioning and refrigeration, hotel and restaurant management, electronics, and word processing programs. A new Child Development Center opened in early 1992, and a new Physical Education Complex with basketball and racquetball courts, showers and lockers, dance room and weight training facilities officially opened in the fall of 1994. The construction of a Language Arts/Math/Science Building was completed in 1997. Other campus buildings include two relocatable classroom buildings, a vocational shop building, a student services center, student activities center and a food services facility. Oxnard College continues to be committed to developing a comprehensive educational program as well as a comprehensive campus environment for the students of its service area.

Faculty

Notable faculty include pioneering martial artist Graciela Casillas, English Department Chair Jim Merrill, who also composed the school anthem, sociologist Dr. Marie Butler whose work on Egyptian women, and the status of women in third world banking is well known, Dr. Tomás Salinas, a professor of Chicano Studies who was an early innovator in the field at both Oxnard College and UC Santa Barbara, Dr. Desmond Jones (emeritus), from the London School of Economics, Prof. Jeanette Redding, whose innovations in providing instruction to under-prepared students resulted in Oxnard College's Success Academy, Prof. Amy London Edwards, whose speech tournaments have led to statewide recognition for Oxnard College students, and Dr. Linda Kama'ila, ethnographer of Hawai'i and Native America, and author of articles on ethnopoetics.

Programs

Notable programs include Dental Hygiene, whose graduates have consistently had 100% passage rates in the National and State Board exams; Culinary Arts whose students operate the program's Bistro Restaurant during the Spring Term; and the Fire Academy and Emergency Medical Technician programs.

Academic Departments

There are four academic departments at Oxnard College.

Career and Technical Education

Liberal Studies

Math/Science/Health/PE/Athletics

Transitional Studies

Notable Alumni

Notable alumni of Oxnard College include artist Veronica Pantoja, the late writer Gerald Schnebly, British musician Fiona Elizabeth Cox, philosopher Vladimir Kalugin and international activist Maria Tapia.

Sports

Soccer

Oxnard College men's soccer won the California College Athletic Association State Soccer Championship on December 6, 2015 facing Evergreen Valley College at De Anza College in Cupertino California. Oxnard college managed to pull off a 2-1 victory against Evergreen Valley College in extra time giving Oxnard College its first State Championship in 40 years of history of Oxnard College.

Gabriel Gonzalez , Sacramento Republic FC USL PRO

Ivan Mirkovic , Sacramento Republic USL PRO

Alberto Anguiano, LA Blues USL PRO

Travis Bowen , LA Galaxy II USL PRO

Hugo Zuniga, Queretero Mexico 2nd Division

Baseball

Curtis Leavitt, Minnesota Twins

Justin Frash, Oakland A’s

Eric Komatsu, New York Yankees

Jesus Valdez, Dodgers

Cody Kurz, Oakland A's

Patrick Weigel, Milwaukee Brewers

Luke Eubank, Cleveland Indians

Jerry Willard, Cleveland Indians

Degrees

Associate of Arts, Associate of Science (awarded to students who have successfully completed a minimum of 60 semester units in general education courses with at least 18 units in one curriculum area), Certificate of Achievement (awarded to students who have successfully completed a minimum of 18 units in an occupational curriculum), Certificates of Completion (instructional divisions may award Certificates of Completion to students who have satisfactorily completed a course or a sequence of courses designed to lead them to specific types of employment or to an upgrading of skills).

Student Organizations

ASL Sign Language (ASL) Club The purpose of the ASL Club is to create an accessible place for all ASL learners of all levels to practice, interact with deaf community and promote awareness about ASL

Addictive Disorders Studies ADS is a social group for students who are currently learning about substance-abuse addiction. ADS promotes awareness in the community.

Chemistry Club Chemistry Club aims to assist the members in attaining their goals of academic success through experiments, field trips, study groups, and tutoring. The Chemistry Club makes chemistry accessible to the general public through outreach and fun social events such as dodge-ball tournaments, beach cleanups, movie nights, potlucks and magic shows.

Culinary Arts Club The Culinary Arts Club gives students the opportunity to pursue various avenues of partnerships which in turn will also teach, mentor, and give purpose to our club members, and to provide non-profit assistance to the culinary arts program.

The EMP Club promotes the understanding and increase the enjoyment of learning in all areas of engineering, math and physics. Also, to assist their members in attaining their goals of academic success.

Movimiento Estudiantil Chicana/o De Aztlan is a student organization that promotes higher education, culture, and history. M.E.C.H.A was founded on the principles of self-determination for the literation of our people. M.E.C.H.A. hopes a political involvement and education is the avenue for change in our society.

Monster Fitness Club’s promotes a healthy eating and a proper exercise regime for a balanced lifestyle and overall wellbeing.

OC NEMA'S purpose is to promote the understanding and increase the enjoyment of learning all areas of near eastern dance, music, costuming, customs and cuisine.

Polynesian is a club sharing Polynesian culture with all students of Oxnard college.

Sociology Club is an organization that serves homeless shelters, food banks, one book one campus and has Cinco de mayo. The Sociology Club’s motto is “Changing Our Social World.”

The Theatre Arts club is dedicated to the performing arts at Oxnard College. The Theater Club is a place where all students are made to feel like they are part of the production. The club organizes field trips to live theatre performances in the community.

Veterans Club was established to provide a network of support to military veterans, their families and civilian supporters. The Veterans Club provides information to assist with the integration into the classroom as well as the workforce.