Santa Rosa Junior College

Santa Rosa Junior College

Type	Public community college
Established	1918
Parent institution	Sonoma County Junior College District
President	Dr. Angelica Garcia
Students	26,674 [1]
Location	Santa Rosa , California , United States
Campus	Suburban, 80 acres (0.32 km2) (main campus and Petaluma campus)
Nickname	Bear Cubs
Sporting affiliations	CCCAA
Mascot	Bear Cubs
Website	santarosa.edu

Santa Rosa Junior College (SRJC) is a public community college in Santa Rosa, California with an additional campus in Petaluma and centers in surrounding Sonoma County. Santa Rosa Junior College was modeled as a feeder school for the University of California system (a "junior" version of nearby University of California, Berkeley, with the Bear Cub mascot modeled after Oski ). ^[2] SRJC is governed by the Sonoma County Junior College District (SCJCD).

History

Founded in 1918, Santa Rosa Junior College is the tenth oldest community college in the state. After just over a century, only six presidents have served SRJC: Floyd P. Bailey (1921-1957), Randolph Newman (1957-1970), Roy Mikalson (1971-1990), Robert F. Agrella (1990-2012), Frank Chong (2012–2023), and Maria Angélica Garcia (2023–present). ^[3]

President Newman established the Santa Rosa Junior College Foundation as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization in 1969. ^[3] The foundation is responsible for the administration of scholarships and infrastructural development fundraising, ^[4] in large part through the Alumni & Friends Association. ^[5] SRJC was closed from May 7–11, 1970 after Governor Ronald Reagan ordered that all California colleges and universities shut down due to anti-war protests and rallies after the shootings of four students at Kent State University. ^[6]

In 2014, Sonoma County voters passed Measure H, a $410 million dollar bond to improve district facilities, the largest investment in the schools history. ^[7]

In 2023, Dr. Angélica Garcia, the then President of Berkeley City College, was selected as the next Superindentent/President of the SCJCD and Santa Rosa Junior College. Becoming the first Woman, first Hispanic, and first LGBTQ+ person to serve in that position in the schools 105 year history. ^[8]

Campus

Santa Rosa campus

Santa Rosa Junior College Sign

SRJC's main campus is located 52 miles (84 km) north of San Francisco and has a traditional-style 100-acre (0.40 km²) campus with ivy-covered brick buildings in the heart of Santa Rosa, California. In addition to its administration buildings, classroom facilities, and laboratories, the campus houses a Planetarium, the Robert F. Agrella Art Gallery, Summer Repertory Theatre, and the Santa Rosa Junior College Multicultural Museum. ^[9]

Frank P. Doyle Library

Frank P. Doyle Library

In August 2006, SRJC moved its Santa Rosa campus library to the new Frank P. Doyle Library building. Named after the college's most significant benefactor, the four-story building is the largest on campus at 145,000 square feet (13,500 m²). It houses the Library, Media Services, Distance Education, and Instructional Computing Departments, as well as the college art gallery, tutorial center and Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning, a multimedia training and production facility for SRJC faculty. Approximately 5,500 users per day enter the library. The library includes many green building features designed to make it energy efficient and environmentally friendly, including an array of 77 KW photovoltaic solar panels on the library roof. ^[10]

Santa Rosa Junior College librarians were leaders in the early movement to promote information literacy in California's community colleges, and SRJC was among the first of the colleges to institute an information literacy requirement for graduation. The Library and Information Resources Department offers several full-credit courses which fill this requirement.

Robert F. Agrella Art Gallery

Named in 2012 in honor of the recently retired president of 22 years, the Robert F. Agrella Art Gallery offers exhibits and programs which support the art curriculum, focusing on art history, ceramics, computer graphics, drawing, graphic design, jewelry, painting, photography, printmaking and sculpture. In addition to the Annual Student Show and the occasional Art Faculty exhibits, quality art from outside the area is shown throughout the year. Exhibits are open to the community. [11]

The Santa Rosa Junior College Art Gallery was established in 1973, the first significant exhibition space in the region. The original gallery location was in Bussman Hall on the Santa Rosa Campus, where an old anthropology museum previously existed.

In 1998, the North Bay Bohemian named SRJC's Art Gallery the "Best Art Gallery in the North Bay."

In fall 2006, the Art Gallery transitioned to a new space in the Frank P. Doyle Library that opened in 2007 on the Santa Rosa Campus, and continues bringing quality art exhibits to Sonoma County. ^[12]

The gallery is located on the first floor of the Doyle Library building on the Santa Rosa campus.

Santa Rosa Junior College Multicultural Museum

The college's museum, originally called the Jesse Peter Museum, focuses on the Native American art of North America and ethnographic art of parts of Mesoamerica, Central America, South America, Africa, and Asia. ^[13] Permanent exhibits include Native American baskets, jewelry and pottery that come from the Elsie Allen Collection, acquired in the 1970s. The permanent and changing art exhibits focus on Native American art and anthropology of other cultures, and are used as a resource for multi-cultural studies by Santa Rosa Junior College students and area students.

The museum is located at Bussman Hall, 1501 Mendocino Avenue, Santa Rosa, California.

Burdo Culinary Arts Center

The B. Robert Burdo Center is the home of Santa Rosa Junior College's Culinary Arts Program. The two-story, 22,000 square foot building includes three classrooms, and four teaching kitchens, incorporating a public demonstration kitchen. The student-run Café and Bakery is featured on the first floor of the new building. It was completed in 2012 and put into service for the Spring 2012 semester.

Petaluma campus

SRJC began offering evening classes in Petaluma in 1964, and in the early 1970s held classes in leased spaces throughout the city. In 1985, the Board of Trustees purchased a 40-acre (160,000 m²) site in east Petaluma, and in 1995 the first phase of construction of a Petaluma Center was completed. The Petaluma Center officially became a campus in April 1999. The second phase of construction to expand the Petaluma Campus to a 12,000-student capacity was completed in 2008, and included: life science and physical science labs, an art studio, a new 35,000 square foot library, a physical fitness center, bookstore, student services areas, dining areas, additional classrooms and technology labs, faculty/administrative offices, a digital arts lab, a nearly 300-seat auditorium (Carole L. Ellis Auditorium), and expanded outdoor spaces. The contemporary adobe-style buildings with red tile roofs and clock tower with Westminster chimes reflect the Spanish history of the area. ^[14] The campus is 35 miles (56 km) north of San Francisco.

Herold Mahoney Library

The Herold Mahoney Library at SRJC's Petaluma campus originally opened its doors in the Fall of 1995. Many of the programs in SRJC's Arts & Lectures Series take place in the Mahoney Library. With the expansion of the Petaluma campus, the Mahoney Library has expanded to five times its original size, 35,000 sq ft (3,300 m²). The new library building opened on June 16, 2008, the first day of summer session. ^[15]

Technology Academy

There is a Technology Academy located on the Petaluma Campus. Opened in January 2009 in Telecom Valley, this educational program was established to meet the training needs of North Bay technology companies, offering classes and training programs to the general public and in-service training for the technology companies. Clientele includes incumbent workers, entry-level workers, and high school co-enrollment students. ^[16]

Shone Farm

Established in 1972, the Robert Shone Farm currently operates as a self-sustaining 365-acre (1.48 km²) farm near the Russian River, in Forestville, generating income from the sale of grapes from the college's vineyard operation as well as oat hay, oat silage, and sheep and swine operations. ^[17] A new Agriculture Pavilion was completed in 2006.^{[ citation needed ]} The farm offers diversified, hands-on educational opportunities in Viticulture, Wine Studies, Equine Studies, Animal Science, Sustainable Agriculture, and Environmental Conservation. Produce raised in farm gardens are used in SRJC's Culinary Training Program and in a community supported agriculture program operated by students from agribusiness and sustainable agriculture programs.^{[ citation needed ]} The Shone Farm Winery was established in fall 2008. ^{[18] [19]}

Public Safety Training Center

The Public Safety Training Center was established in Windsor in 1961, and currently provides coursework and field training for police officers, corrections officers, police dispatchers, seasonal park rangers, emergency medical technicians, paramedics, and firefighters. In spring 2002 the modern facility was completed on a 20-acre (0.081 km²) site in Windsor to provide in-service training for people working in public safety. The center is the largest provider of in-service training for law enforcement personnel north of the Golden Gate Bridge ^{[ citation needed ]}, offering traditional academic offerings, administration and classroom buildings, an emergency medical care laboratory facility, an indoor firing range, a large multipurpose building, a scenario training village, and a driving instruction area with skid pad.^{[ citation needed ]}

Athletics

Santa Rosa Junior College is home to the Bear Cubs. They are part of the Big 8 Athletic Conference and are usually contenders in most junior college playoff games. They are well known for their football, baseball, soccer and wrestling programs. They have a long time rivalry with the Sacramento City College Panthers. The Santa Rosa Junior College also has a very well known and successful Ice Hockey Program known as the Santa Rosa Junior College Polar Bears. Although the Ice Hockey team is a club sport the team has been nationally ranked in 2009-2010 and 2011–12. There are athletic organizations including Judo, Rugby, Cheerleading and Beach Volleyball.

Baseball

The baseball team won the state championship in 2016, placing second to Grossmont College in a seven-game championship series in 2017. ^[20]

Speech and debate

SRJC Forensics, the speech & debate team, earned the #1 national ranking among two-year colleges in 2016. ^[21] Led by Mark Nelson and Hal Sanford, the team ranked for five years (2012-2017) within the top six teams in the nation. ^[22]

Notable alumni

• Jacob Appelbaum, journalist, computer security researcher, hacker ^[23]
• Donna Boutelle, historian ^[24]
• Sheana Davis, chef and cheesemaker ^[25]
• Gary Friedman, co-CEO and chairman of Restoration Hardware ^[26]
• Adam Froman, American football player ^[27]
• Jonny Gomes, professional baseball player ^[28]
• Tyson Griffin, wrestler, Mixed Martial Artist ^[29]
• Herbert N. Hultgren, Professor of Medicine (Cardiovascular) Emeritus, Stanford Medical School, high-altitude medicine pioneer and researcher ^[30]
• Michael Kearney, former child prodigy ^[31]
• Gaye LeBaron, newspaper columnist, author, local historian ^[32]
• Mike McGuire, Majority Leader of the California State Senate ^[33]
• Ben McKee, bassist for Imagine Dragons ^[34]
• Brandon Poulson, professional baseball player ^[35]
• Brande Roderick, model and actress ^[36]
• Jake Scheiner (born 1995), baseball player for the Hiroshima Toyo Carp of Nippon Professional Baseball
• Gabbi Tuft, trans woman who was formerly a professional wrestler under the ring name Tyler Reks ^[37]
• Jason Verrett, National Football League cornerback ^[38]

Notable faculty

• Edward Von der Porten (1933-2018) — early nautical archaeologist

References

1. California Community Colleges Chancellor's Office - Data Mart. Datamart.cccco.edu. Retrieved on 2013-07-21.
2. "Santa Rosa Junior College is turning 100, here's how it all began". 29 September 2016.
3. "SRJC History | Marketing & Communications" . Retrieved 2023-08-09.
4. "Home". Santa Rosa Junior College Foundation.
5. "Alumni & Friends Association". Santa Rosa Junior College Foundation.
6. "What life was like in Sonoma County 50 years ago". Sonoma Index Tribune. 2020-03-05. Retrieved 2020-03-06.
7. "SRJC picks planners for $410M upgrades". 5 April 2016.
8. Morales, Peter; Fructuoso, Bryan (2023-11-16). "A new era: the investiture of Dr. Angélica Garcia". The Oak Leaf. Retrieved 2024-02-08.
9. Santa Rosa Junior College. Santarosa.edu (2008-07-30). Retrieved on 2013-07-21.
10. "Santa Rosa Junior College Library - Doyle Library - Santa Rosa Campus". www.santarosa.edu. Archived from the original on November 20, 2008.
11. "Robert F. Agrella Art Gallery: Visitor Information".
12. Santa Rosa Junior College Archived 2009-12-16 at the Wayback Machine . Santarosa.edu (2011-11-17). Retrieved on 2013-07-21.
13. "Museum History | Santa Rosa Junior College Multicultural Museum". museum.santarosa.edu. Retrieved 2024-02-08.
14. Santa Rosa Junior College - Petaluma Campus. Santarosa.edu (2013-02-27). Retrieved on 2013-07-21.
15. "This page has moved!". www.santarosa.edu. Archived from the original on July 20, 2011.
16. "Santa Rosa Junior College". www.santarosa.edu. Archived from the original on December 2, 2008.
17. "Facility Manager Recognition Awards 2013: Leonard Diggs, Shone Farm | The North Bay Business Journal". www.northbaybusinessjournal.com. Archived from the original on 2017-08-24.
18. Shone Farm Story. Shonefarm.com. Retrieved on 2013-07-21.
19. Shone Farm Winery Home. Shonefarm.com. Retrieved on 2013-07-21.
20. "SRJC baseball team falls short of repeat state title". 31 May 2017.
21. https://comm-studies.santarosa.edu/speech-and-debate-team
22. "On the offensive: SRJC debate team refutes the competition en route to nationals". 11 April 2017.
23. "Jacob Appelbaum Resume". 2003-08-01. Archived from the original on August 1, 2003. Retrieved 2015-10-12.
24. "202 J.C. Candidates for Degrees Saturday". The Press Democrat. 1953-06-11. p. 16. Retrieved 2022-04-19– via Newspapers.com.
25. Stierch, Sarah (24 March 2016). "Sonoma Chef Getting Back to Cheese". Sonoma Magazine. Retrieved 4 October 2016.
26. Guthrie, Julian (27 October 2013). "Gary Friedman: Restoration Hardware's savior has bigger plans". Sfgate.
27. "Adam Froman - Football Recruiting - Player Profiles - ESPN". ESPN.com.
28. "Jonny Gomes Stats". Baseball-Reference.com.
29. "Tyson Griffin UFC Bio" . Retrieved 2014-01-01.
30. "Stanford University Faculty Senate Records: Memorial Resolution: Hultgren, Herbert, 1917–1997 (Medicine)". exhibits.stanford.edu. Retrieved March 2, 2023.
31. "Archives". Los Angeles Times.
32. Tesconi, Tim (18 March 2001). "Voice of the Community". The Press Democrat . Retrieved 24 November 2016.
33. "Mike McGuire". www.ssualumni.org. Retrieved 2023-11-05.
34. Imagine Dragons' bassist from Forestville to BottleRock, Press Democrat
35. "Padecky: Healdsburg semi-pro pitcher wows MLB team scouts". 30 July 2014.
36. "Brande Roderick". TVGuide.com.
37. "WWE former superstar Tyler Reks comes out as trans woman Gabbi Tuft: 'I love myself for who I am'".
38. "VERRETT SCORES A FIRST: EX-SRJC PLAYER, TAKEN NO. 25 BY CHARGERS, ONLY FIRST-ROUND PICK IN SCHOOL HISTORY". 11 May 2014.

External links

• San Francisco Bay Area portal

• Official website

38°27′19.08″N122°43′11.14″W / 38.4553000°N 122.7197611°W / 38.4553000; -122.7197611