A Brief History of Ventura College
Gary Johnson, Professor Emeritus
11/8/2006
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Ventura College – An 80 Year History
Ventura College has been a part of Ventura County history for the past 80 years, and many, many people have been a part of the college family in some way, shape or form. We hope you will enjoy this brief chronicle of the College’s story.
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In the Beginning…Before VC
1907: California state legislature enables high school districts to add two years for “Junior College.” (JC) 1917: California establishes JC’s as part of the public school system & provide $$$ to encourage their development. 1921-1925: VC High School Districts and surrounding communities debate whether to and where to create a JC.
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Ventura Junior College
1925: The Ventura Junior College Department of Ventura High School is founded, 22 students constitute first class. Mission: to provide the first two years of college transfer education preparing county students to transfer to a four year college or university. Referred to locally as Grades 13 and14,the college was located at the current site of Cabrillo Junior High School. (Site destroyed by fire in 1951) Principal/Superintendent H.O. Wise served from 1925-1928.
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1920s Reasons for JCs:
Students without funds for a traditional college education can continue their studies Students can test run college and see if they can handle it Parents can keep their children at home a little longer Club ladies can take cultural classes The presence of more mature students will enhance the learning of the younger high school students Teachers with strong academic backgrounds could be more easily recruited to the high schools
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VJC 1925-1929:
Classes taught in auditorium that held six classrooms, a library & a study hall. Administrative office was in the tower above the main entrance. Center for Student Activities was in a 1911 rented house. Free tuition, transportation & books. White “V” placed on the hillside. Melrowe Martin replaced Wise, serving from 1928-1929 as Superintendent.
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A New Campus is Funded!
1928: A $400,000 bond passes to purchase 14+ acres – Hill Estate on Main St. to build a new High School/JC Campus. 1929: Colors: Purple & White 1929-1930: School more than doubles to 45 students.
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New Campus Opens
1930: On Main Street on site of current Ventura High School. 1929-1931: Amos E. Clark is Superintendent. 1929-1952: Uses a four year curriculum – Grades 11 & 12 and first two years of college. 1931-1952: D.R. Henry serves as Principal. 1932 – First graduation (18 students), other traditions established: alma mater, school yell, school colors of orange & black, Pirates mascot, student body name (Buccaneer Club). 1934: 17 acre farm & several residential lots added to accommodate expanding campus
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Late 30s:
1935: Out-of-district fees established 1936: Became Ventura Junior College – which covered all four years of study 1937: College added “Community Education” to mission (voc ed, career ed, expansion to meet needs of adult learners) 1938: Another bond passed to finance campus expansion and construction 1939: Seven new buildings built (including Ag, Industry & Trades, Commerce) 1939: Free bus transportation for students anywhere in the county. 1939: Enrollment exceeds 200 students.
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The Pre-WW II Years: Growth
1940: Enrollment for the four year school reached 800; curriculum expanded to include fire, police, carpentry, electricity, home arts, shop machines. 1941: Six new classroom buildings, auditorium & football stadium opened. Enrollment hits 1,500. Band made 35 appearances, including Rose Parade, State Fair, County Fair, Bakersfield Frontier Days. Defense Program inaugurated: 23 courses, 200 hours of civil air patrol flight training.
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The War Years: Cutbacks
1942: Athletic & Student Activities curtailed due to rationing & cutbacks. VC quarterback drafted 2/3 of the way through the football season 1943: Faculty down by 50% with both men and women joining the armed services in officer & leadership positions. 1944: Only 56 students enrolled in the freshman & sophomore classes. 1945: Only 9 students remained in classes, only one male. 71 VJC students and grads gave their lives in WWII.
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Unsuccessful Strategic Planning
1946: Study concludes that VJC:
Is a mature institution Campus is adequate to meet enrollment needs until 1956 Changes over the next 20 years would not be as outstanding as those of the past 20 years. Oops.
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Post War Boom at VJC
GI bill & returning male students mean big enrollment growth. Athletics, clubs, theatre, music, and social activities were all revived. New courses added in construction, interior design, landscaping to meet housing construction demands of new families. Returning faculty who had served as military leaders demanded a more decisive role in college decision making. 1947: Faculty tenure policy and salary schedule based on degrees & credentials established.
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Better Strategic Planning….
1949: Facing growing enrollment pressure, the District Board commissioned the Melbo study, by USC, to plan for the future. Their forthcoming recommendation supported the creation of an independent two-year junior college.
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A Whole New College – the 50s!
1950: Consideration given to creating a Community College district; idea rejected, left responsibility for Junior College education with Ventura School District. 1951: Ventura passed a $5.75 million school bond issue by 89%. 1952: New campus on Telegraph Road proposed because:
Enrollment continuing to grow Fire destroyed Cabrillo Junior High School site
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1952: New Structure to College
3-3-2 Plan created. Three years of middle school, three years of high school and two years of junior college. VJC became Ventura College
Anacapa College and San Buenaventura College rejected Construction began on the 113 acre “barranca” site.
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The Early 50s – Glory Years
1951: Men’s Basketball Team (33-4) won State tourney, national regionals and plays in Final Four in Kansas. 1952: Men’s Basketball Team (34-5) took State again. 1953-1956: Huge Price holds the reins of the college. 1954: A transitional year for the five administrators and 58 faculty designated to staff the college in its new independent campus status.
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Home to Telegraph Road!
1955: During Spring break, faculty & students moved the college into its new campus buildings. Instruction began the day after Easter. Campus was dedicated April 29, 1955. Campus was constructed to serve 2,000 students – considered adequate to last until the year 2000. 1956: Enrollment reached 3,562. Students placed the VC on the hill, kept the school colors, Pirate mascot, and other emblems from VJC. 1956-1960: Phil Putnam is President of the College.
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Pretty Cool Place!
Ventura College was considered to be the most modern and best-equipped junior college in Southern California.
Buildings included: Library, 15,000 volumes, dedicated space for listening rooms, faculty study rooms & foreign language lab. Campus Center had coffee shop, cafeteria, student lounge, bookstore & student activities office. Classroom buildings for art, electronics, chemistry, biology, physics/astronomy/geology/geography, home ec, ag, child care, auto shop, welding shop, general purpose classrooms, faculty office buildings, faculty lounge and board meeting room, large & small gyms & locker rooms. Campus was landscaped & plants were labeled so it was a community arboretum. Faculty formed a faculty association and a Faculty Wives Club was formed.
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Growth Continues through the 50s
1956: Admin Building housing counseling and A&R opened. 1956: Bond issue passed to extend construction to accommodate growth. 1957: More talk about VC becoming the campus for a county-wide junior College District. City of Oxnard considers getting its own JC. Oxnard students made up 28% of the VC enrollment.
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“The times they are a changin’”
1960: State Legislature adopts “California Master Plan for Higher Education”. JCs to become Community Colleges with expanded mission: serve all students over 18, with or without a high school diploma. Curriculum to contain traditional university transfer courses, vocational ed. programs and courses, and community service courses which led to self-improvement or enrichment. 1960-1966: Ed Rowins serves as VC President.
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A District is Created
1962: Agreement was reached to create the Ventura County Community College District (VCCCD) An agreement to establish campuses in Moorpark & Oxnard also created 1963: 114 acre site for MC purchased. 1963-1965: VC enrollment doubled to 10,000+. Six new buildings added: Theatre, faculty office building, Communications building, Data Processing Center, Student Center/Bookstore and the Child Care Center was remodeled for the Nursing Program.
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Faculty Organize
1965: The faculty Academic Senate was founded under State enabling legislation designed to grant faculty an enhanced voice in college governance. Dr. Thomas O’Neill served as organizing President. Dr. O’Neill taught at VC for 45 years. 38 full-time faculty were hired, increasing the faculty by 40%.
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More Expansion in the District
1966: VCCCD District Office opened on Day Road. Dr. Herman Sheffield became the first District Superintendent. 1967: Moorpark College opened. 1967-1974: Dr. Richard E. Loehr is President of VC. 1968: The campus site of 118 acres was purchased for OC. 1969: VC faculty & staff opened Oxnard Center at Rose Ave School, offered the first classes for what would become OC.
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Diversity Comes to VC
The 60s & early 70s saw VC and its student body buffeted by and responding to the same forces as the country.
Discussions on Civil and Human Rights concerns and the Viet Nam War had a major impact. With a growing diversity in the student population, the Black Student Union and MECHA were formed. Faculty responded with numerous new courses in Black Studies, Chicano Studies, Women’s Studies, & Native American Studies. Active traditional student activities were augmented by sit-ins, marches, teach-ins & anti-war demonstrations, as well as cultural and racial consciousness-raising events.
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70s bring Expansion & Inclusion
1970: College hosts its first Cultural Fair – a three day event under a colorful circus tent with diverse food, music, dance, marriage vows, fashion, environmental exhibits and a student written and performed musical. 1974: Campus Aquatic Center opened, and the swimming program laid a foundation for a nationally recognized program. 1974: Weekend College debuts Saturday classes. 1974-1985: Dr. Richard A. Glenn is VC President. 1975: Oxnard Center on Saviers Road opened. 1976: VC offers classes in Santa Paula, Fillmore and Ojai. 1979: OC opens as third District college.
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Dr. Richard Glenn, President, 1974-85
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Changes Impact Faculty
1978: State legislation provided for faculty collective bargaining; AFT certified as the faculty bargaining agent. Prop 13 passed which reduced property taxes and caused a shift of primary funding determination from the local board to the state legislative budget. The colleges got less money & the state had increased policy influence. The law & ethics of Affirmative Action began to change the composition of the faculty & staff. VC went from largely white & male to reflect the demographics of the community and the curriculum. Title IX legislation placed pressure on achieving parity in access and support for men’s & women’s athletics and in other areas across the campus.
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80s Bring Changes in Mission
With passage of Prop 13 came a refocusing and narrowing of the community college mission.
A return to the earlier view of JCs – setting aside community interest & personal enrichment in favor of transfer and career related curriculum State exerted greater influence on day-to-day operations. Buzzwords: Mission Study, Accountability, Articulation, Matriculation, Title V Compliance, Shared Governance, Credentialing & Developmental Studies
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And Changes in Funding…
1983 – First-ever enrollment fees hit community colleges
$5 per unit for max of 6 units $50 flat rate for more than 6 units Enrollment dropped at some schools Clear message that the state believed that students benefiting from community college education should help bear the cost.
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1990s: Fees Volatile
1990: Tiny increase to $6 per unit, 10 unit cost max of $60 1992: Up to $10, no cost limit, plus a $50 per unit differential for those with a bachelor’s degree. 1993: $13 per unit, plus the differential with a bachelor’s degree 1995: Differential eliminated 1998: down to $12 per unit 1999: down to $11 per unit
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1985-1992: Dr. Robert W. Long serves the college as President.
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Pride of the 1990s:
1991: East Campus opens in Santa Paula Classes offered in Fillmore, Piru and Ojai 1992-1995: Dr. Jesus Carreon becomes first Hispanic President of Ventura College. College becomes a Conference sports powerhouse. 1995-2004: Dr. Larry Calderon, alum of VC, becomes President of the college. 1996: Mathematics and Science Complex opens
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A New Century!
Measure S Bond Passes!
$356 Million for District $117 for Ventura College
Fees Rise Drastically!
2002: from $11 to $18 per unit 2003: from $18 to $26 per unit
2002-2004: Fee increases cause:
enrollment drops district-wide, resulting in funding cuts, course offering cuts, program eliminations, staff layoffs, and large number of faculty & staff encouraged to retire. VC Press closes after 79 years of publication
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Rebuilding Starts
2004: 20 new faculty added – first large group in more than a decade. 2005: Dr. Robin Calote is named President of Ventura College, first woman to serve in that position. All three colleges have female Presidents.
Dr. Robin Calote, current VC President
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VC Goes High Tech
2005: New Library & Learning Resource Center Opens
100,000 square feet Space for 100,000 volumes 360 brand new internet wired computers in the Learning Resource Center (B.E.A.C.H.) Tutoring Center, Assistive Technology Training Center, WiFi wired Reading Room
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Library & Learning Resource Center
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Coming Next!
2006: Student Services Center contains:
Counseling Admissions & Records Student Business Office Renovated space for EOPS, Financial Aid, International Students,
2007: Sportsplex:
New 9-lane, all-weather track Football and Soccer fields Stadium Seating for 3,000
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New Football Field at Sports-Plex
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On the Drawing Board
Health Sciences Complex
Nursing Paramedics EMT
General Purposes Classroom Building High-Tech Center To be completed by 2009, will replace several buildings up on the north-east corner of the campus
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Health Sciences Building design
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Thank you!
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