Modesto Junior College

Modesto Junior College (MJC) is a public community college in Modesto, California. It is part of Yosemite Community College District along with Columbia College. MJC, and Columbia College, belong to the California Community College system along with 112 other public community colleges. The college has two campuses in Modesto.[2] The East Campus is the original campus while the West Campus is the larger of the two. Courses are provided in general education, lower-division transfer programs, occupational and developmental education.

Modesto Junior College
TypePublic community college
Established1921 (1921)
PresidentDr. James Houpis
Students19,262[1]
Location
Modesto
,
California
,
United States
ColorsBlue, white and black
AthleticsCalifornia Community College Athletic Association (CCCAA) – Big 8 Conference
NicknamePirates
MascotPirates
Websitewww.mjc.edu
The Morris Building houses administration departments.

MJC is accredited by the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges (ACCJC).[3]

History

Modesto Junior College can trace its roots to the decision by the California State Legislature in 1907 to authorize high schools to create junior colleges[4] what were termed "postgraduate courses of study" similar to the courses offered in just the first two years of university studies.[5]

Shortly after the decision by the legislature, Fresno City College was formed 96 miles south of Modesto. Due to the success of Fresno City College, the state legislature passed legislation in 1921 allowing for the creation of community college districts. Modesto Junior College, founded in September 1921, became the first community college district.[6]

Modesto Junior College started out with only 61 students but has since expanded to over 19,000 students. In addition to enrollment increases, the school has expanded to having two campuses MJC West and MJC East along with more than 20 community sites throughout the Yosemite College District that are used to meet particular education needs.

In 2015, it was announced that Modesto Junior College would become one of the first community colleges in California to offer Bachelor of Science degrees. The college will offer a bachelor of science degree in respiratory care starting in 2017.[7]

Campus
The entrance to the main auditorium of Modesto Junior College's Performing Arts Center

There are two Modesto Junior College campuses; MJC East and MJC West. MJC East is 58.3 arces and MJC West is 167.1 acres – between both campuses, there are 6 large scale agricultural units, 7 (agriculture student) housing units, 74 buildings, 370 rooms including 15 athletic areas, 104 classrooms, 36 common use areas, 21 computer labs, 12 conference rooms, 99 lab classrooms, 16 lectures halls and 10 performance rooms.

Administration

The college is part of the Yosemite Community College District within the California Community Colleges System. The current college president is Dr. James Houpis. The district is governed by an elected seven-member Board of Trustees.

Academics

Modesto Junior College offers Associate Degrees. The school boasts 19,262 students and is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges.

Modesto Junior College provides over 88 Associate Degrees, 30 of which are of Agriculture alone.[8] MJC is also home to an agricultural internship program in which students are given residence on West Campus.[9] The school owns over 100 acres of various crops which it uses to teach the students theory of crop and animal sciences as well as give the students in the field experience.[10]

Athletics

Modesto Junior College is a member of CCCAA. Sports teams are nicknamed the MJC Pirates and their colors are blue and white. MJC has the largest community college sports program in Northern California with 21 sports: Men's and Women's basketball; Men's and Women's Cross Country; Men's Football; Men's and Women's Golf; Men's and Women's Soccer; Women's Softball; Men's and Women's Swimming; Men's and Women's Tennis; Men's and Women's Track; Women's Volleyball; Men's and Women's Water Polo; and Men's Wrestling at the Intercollegiate level respectively.

Notable people

References
  1. "About MJC". Modesto Junior College. Retrieved 2015-12-28.
  2. "Maps and Directions". Modesto Junior College. Retrieved 2015-08-16.
  3. "Accreditation". Modesto Junior College. Retrieved 2018-09-05.
  4. Winter, Carl G. (December 21, 1964). History of the Junior College Movement in California (PDF). Release No. 20. Sacramento, California: Bureau of Junior College Education, California State Dept. of Education.
  5. LHC 2012, p. 5.
  6. "History of California Community Colleges" (PDF). Education Resources Information Center. Retrieved 2015-08-16.
  7. "MJC to offer four-year degree in respiratory care". mjc.edu (Press release). Modesto Junior College. 2015. Retrieved 2015-08-16.
  8. "Degree Listings". mjc.edu. Modesto Junior College.
  9. "MJC Internship". mjc.edu. Modesto Junior College.
  10. "Agriculture, Environmental Sciences". mjc.edu. Modesto Junior College. Archived from the original on August 10, 2011.
  11. White, Dana (1999). George Lucas. Twenty-First Century Books. p. 18. ISBN 0-8225-4975-1.
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