Sierra College (SC) Introduction and Academics

Introduction

With four campuses located throughout Placer and Nevada Counties in California, Sierra College is the largest provider of community education and lifelong learning in the area. The main campus is located in Rocklin, California just minutes from Sacramento with other locations in Grass Valley, Truckee and Roseville. Sierra College takes pride in both its academic and athletic programs and strives to continually meet the educational needs of a growing and dynamic community. Offering over one hundred twenty-five degree and certificate programs and numerous general education and continuing education courses, Sierra College offers something for practically every need.

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Information Summary

Ranks 223rd in California and 2510th overall. See the entire top 2,000 colleges and universities list
Overall Score (about)	56.9
Total Cost On-Campus Attendance	$13,864
Admission Success rate	N/A
Student Ratio Students-to-Faculty	27 : 1
Retention (full-time / part-time)	72% / 51%
Enrollment Total (all students)	18,314

Academics

Sierra College seeks to meet the educational needs of it’s community by providing a diverse and engaging curriculum that offers enlightenment for students at all educational levels and from all walks of life. Whether a person wants to improve reading or math skills, remain technologically current or take the first steps toward an undergraduate degree, Sierra College offers a program to fill the need.

Degrees and Certificate Programs

Sierra College offers nearly one hundred forty associate’s degrees in a wide array of disciplines. Both associate’s in science and associate’s in arts degrees are available depending on the profession. Some examples of programs offered are Law Enforcement, Equine Studies, Nursing, Automotive Analysis and Psychology. Typically, the degrees take about two years of full-time study to complete and prepare the student for entry-level positions in the given profession. Some students also opt to gain an associate’s degree in order to obtain better employment while attending a four-year school to finish a bachelor’s degree.

More and more students wishing to pursue a baccalaureate degree are choosing to begin undergraduate studies at community colleges because of the drastic savings and close proximity to home. For students wishing to do this, Sierra College offers a Transfer Admission Guarantee (TAG) program to students that meet enrollment and GPA requirements of the four-year college. This program offers students the opportunity to complete the first two years of a bachelor’s degree at Sierra College then transfer straight to any University of California program (except UC Berkeley and UCLA), California State University program or a number of select private colleges to complete the baccalaureate program. This program takes away many of the difficulties associated with transferring from one school to another by offering a clear, defined process that ensures that the student is enrolled in classes that transfer and are appropriate to meet the requirements of the institution that the student contracts with.

Frequently people want to start a new career or take classes that pertain to a current profession in order to advance in the workplace or stay current in their field. Sierra College offers many different certificate and license programs in numerous fields. Some of these include Web Programming, Early Childhood Education, Photograhy and Welding. Many professions require a minimum amount of continuing education units in a specifically stated time period in order to maintain state or federal licensure. Sierra College meets the needs of the professional community by offering numerous classes that meet state CEU requirements.

Community Education

For those members of the community who seek to take a few classes for personal enrichment or professional development, Sierra College offers fee-based, non-credit courses. These classes do not necessarily require a high school diploma and are a great way to learn a new skill or hobby or brush up on general education. Sierra College also contracts with local businesses for the purpose of workforce development and helps small businesses become more competitive by assisting them with planning, marketing and other functions necessary to running a successful business.

The Osher Lifelong Learning Institute offers classes designed specifically to address the needs and interests of students fifty-five and over. Sierra is one of only two community colleges in the nation to receive a grant from the Bernard Osher foundation specifically to provide this service to the senior community.

Dual Enrollment

High school students seeking to get a jump on an undergraduate degree may enroll at Sierra College while still attending high school. Students that wish to pursue this program should be aware that it is an undertaking that will require dedication and hard work. Sierra College requires that any student seeking to dual-enroll must take only college-level courses and must meet minimum high school GPA requirements. Additionally, students must be at least sixteen years old and have completed the sophomore year of high school. For more information about this program, contact the college.

Distance Learning

Sierra College understands the needs of it’s community. Therefore, students with challenging schedules may take classes via SC’s Distance Learning Program. Classes are offered online and via televised classes and are full-credit courses which apply toward an associate’s degree. Nearly the entire process from application to registration can be completed online so there is no longer the need to put off attending college because of a busy schedule.

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Admissions

Open admission to Sierra College is available to anybody that is at least eighteen years old and has a high school diploma, GED or has passed the high school proficiency exam. Classes are available for nearly every type of student regardless of whether one wishes to attend part-time or full-time. The programs are extremely flexible as Sierra College understands that not everyone is capable of attending full-time day classes. Courses are available at night, on the weekends or online so that anyone seeking to advance educational goals may do so. Registering for SC may be completed in seven easy steps.

The first step to becoming a Sierra College student is to complete the online application. Available via the school’s website, it is easy to complete and will only take a few minutes. When applying, students will need to submit transcripts from high school, trade school or any other colleges for which they would like to receive credit. After completing the online application, students will receive an email with account activation information. In order to proceed with registration and orientation, every student must activate an online account with SC.

After the student account is activated, new students will need to complete online orientation. This is imperative because the orientation explains school policies and gives the student a better understanding of how to be successful in college. After completing orientation, the next step is assessment testing. Many courses at Sierra College have prerequisites or require a certain level of math, writing or reading proficiency. In order to encourage success, the college requires that this proficiency be demonstrated prior to registering for the class.

As soon as all assessments are complete, the student will need to schedule an appointment with a counselor to discuss educational goals and develop a Student Education Plan for the first semester. This is a valuable step because the counselor will review transcripts and test results as well as point the student in the direction that meets degree requirements. Finally, the student may register for classes and pay tuition and fees. Students that are residents of California will need to submit documentation verifying residency in order to receive in-state tuition rates.

Financial Aid

Financial Aid is available in the form of grants, scholarships, federally subsidized loans and work-study programs. Students will need to complete the Free Application for Financial Aid (FAFSA) after applying. This application may be completed online and is available starting in January or February of the year prior to admissions. Financial information for both the student and family is required so the applicant should have this information available prior to beginning the FAFSA. It is recommended that the student fill this form out as soon as possible because many scholarships are available on a first-come, first-served basis. Both need-based and merit-based scholarships are available. The financial aid office at the school is available to answer any questions and students should contact them to determine if there may be scholarships available that require separate applications.

Student Financial Aid Details

Ranks 5617th for the average student loan amount.
Secrets to getting the best scholarships and financial aid in California.

Athletics

The Sierra College Wolverines Athletic Program offers several different sports options for intercollegiate play. Students may choose to participate in men’s or women’s basketball, golf, tennis, water polo or swimming and diving. Additional sports open to men are baseball, football and wrestling. Women have the added options of softball, volleyball and soccer. The athletic program is extremely competitive and regularly produces athletes who go on to compete at four-year institutions and then continue to a professional sports career.

Additional School Information

Sierra College offers several unique and innovative programs. SC acknowledges the needs of a diverse community and strives to provide an education to all who seek one regardless of ethnicity, social barriers or financial need. In the scope of this goal, Sierra College proudly offers The TriO program, The First Year Experience Program, The New Legacy Committee and continuing education career and technical courses. For more information about these programs, refer to the school website or contact Sierra College.

Mechatronics is a program that combines mechanical, hydraulic, electric and pneumatic skills and trains the student to use them via computer control. This is a two-year program and the student will graduate with the skills to obtain employment utilizing under-water robotics, ski lifts, bio-medical equipment repair and other jobs in this unique, modern field.

Sierra College’s Fire Technology and Firefighting Academy offers training to students seeking careers in fire service and provides training opportunities to both employed and volunteer firefighters.

For students who do not have independent transportation, there is public transportation available for a nominal fare to each campus. For more information, contact the Placer County Transit System.

Bibliography

Sierra College. Sierra College. 1 Nov 2010. Web. 22 April 2011.

“Public Transit in Placer County”. Placer County, California. County of Placer. 22 April 2011. Web. 22 April 2011.

Sierra College