CRC is located near the southern edge of Sacramento, at the heart of some of the city’s fastest-paced suburban development. Partnerships with local, state and national business, industry and organizations offer our students the best in educational programs and facilities.
Since its founding in 1970, Cosumnes River College has lived by this motto: “commitment, quality and innovation.”
- Commitment to meeting our community’s needs
- Quality programs and services for students
- Innovative teaching techniques and state-of-the-art equipment
Cosumnes River College Mission Statement
Vision Statement
Cosumnes River College is an innovative educational and community center that prepares and empowers students to realize their unique potential to transform their lives and contribute to a just and democratic society as global citizens. CRC strengthens the cultural, social, and economic well-being of the region through its development of an educated and engaged citizenry whose decisions are informed by intellectual inquiry and scholarship, a pluralistic world view, and respect for humanity and the environment.
Mission Statement
Cosumnes River College is an open access, student-centered, comprehensive community college that prepares students to realize their educational and career aspirations through exemplary transfer, general, and career education in an academically rigorous and inclusive environment. CRC also offers exceptional instruction in basic skills and English for non-native speakers, as well as a broad array of life-long learning, community service, and workforce development programs.
Values Statement
As a community of scholars and practitioners with a deep commitment to equity and social justice, CRC values teaching and learning excellence and high academic standards sustained by academic integrity, fairness and mutual respect, and an ethic of care. The College’s core values of cultural competence and diversity, continuous learning and assessment, exceptional student services, and innovation are central to our collegial and environmentally responsible academic setting.
Statement Concerning the Value of Cultural Competence at CRC
Cosumnes River College is a comprehensive community college within the Los Rios Community College District with a diverse student and staff population. We strive to provide an environment where cultural competence is the norm.
Definition of Cultural Competence
Culture implies an integrated pattern of collective behavior, including habits, customs, values, beliefs, and institutions. Competence implies the capacity to function effectively.
Cultural competence is the skill of interacting positively with all people - embracing their race, gender, class, religion, sexual orientation, age, culture, ability, or physical abilities. Cosumnes River College pursues values, attitudes, and practices that promote healthy, constructive interactions in a diverse community. Cultural competence is an ongoing process of institutional, professional and personal development through assessment and revision.
To promote cultural competence and create a truly democratic learning environment, CRC values:
- Diversity and pluralism
- Continuous personal and professional development, assessment and revision
- Awareness of the dynamics of cross-cultural interactions
- The ongoing pursuit of teaching strategies and student services that better serves diverse populations
- An environment of inclusion, equity, and justice
Student Demographics (Fall 2008)
- Enrollment at the CRC campus is approximately 14,500 students.
- CRC serves a very diverse community including many students of mixed heritage. The ethnic composition includes: 29.6% European American, 30.9% Asian American, 14.8% African American, 16.6% Latino, .8% Native American and 7.3% other.
- CRC serves the younger as well as the older student with 58.2% of the student population under the age of 25, and 14.4% over the age of 39.
- The ratio of female students to male students is 57.3% female, 42.7% male.
- CRC students come from varied economic backgrounds with 29.4% of students reporting incomes that are considered below poverty and 34.2% of students reporting incomes that are considered middle income.
- 54.1% of CRC students attend during the day and 22.0% of students attend during the evening, with 23.9% of the students attending during the day and evening. 11.4% of our students are enrolled in online courses and other courses that have no regular meeting time. Most students attend part time with 30.0% taking fewer than 6 units, 35.3% enrolled in 6 to 11.9 units, and 34.7% enrolled in 12 or more units.
- Most students attend part time with 29.1% taking fewer than 6 units, 35.4% enrolled in 6 to 11.9 units, and 35.5% enrolled in 12 or more units.
General Education
The college is committed to the principle of providing a broad general education that includes: Natural Sciences, Social and Behavioral Sciences, Humanities and the Arts, Language, and Critical Thinking. The college continues to offer other courses that enhance life-long learning and prepare students for the needs and demands of everyday life. All of these skills help create a balanced life in a democratic society that is diverse in its social, cultural, and educational backgrounds.
Transfer Education
Many courses are designed to enable students to fulfill the transfer requirements of four-year colleges and/or universities, particularly those in the UC and CSU systems. College staff are continually developing lower division educational programs that parallel the first- and second- year courses of those institutions. (See Transfer and Career Center on page 15). Transferable courses may or may not satisfy lower division major preparation, general education, and/or elective requirements. Please meet with a counselor for specific transfer course evaluation.
Career/Technical Education
These programs and courses are designed to prepare students for employment in business and industry or to improve their current job skills.
Basic Skills Education
Courses designed to assist students who are deficient in the basic skills of reading, writing, speaking and analyzing are offered in several non-degree applicable programs.
Contract Education / Contract Training
Customized courses (on-site or off) for Sacramento area businesses, governmental agencies and professional organizations, both credit and non-credit, are now offered in cooperation with Los Rios Community College District's Center for Business and Economic Development. For more information about these offerings, see page 5.
Professional Development
CRC promotes quality and innovation in its faculty and staff by offering activities designed to further enhance classroom instruction and quality of service, which include "Flex Days" instructional activities, as well as on-going training sessions and professional development opportunities for faculty and staff.
Community Education
These programs are designed to respond to community needs and expectations with auxiliary programs such as credit and non-credit classes, workshops, lecture and film series, concerts, art exhibits, television courses, continuing education courses, community services classes, and specially-funded projects.
In addition to academic courses and programs, CRC offers a number of support services to assist students in achieving academic success, including:
Matriculation
Matriculation services are designed to enhance the student’s ability to achieve his/her educational goals. Matriculation encompasses an admission process, pre-enrollment assessment, counseling and an orientation to college programs, services and procedures. (See pages 8-10).
Counseling
A variety of counseling services are available to help students realize their academic, career and personal goals. Seeing a counselor is important for clarifying course requirements of programs of study and to explore program and career options. (See page 12).
Career Services
Career services are available in the "one stop" Transfer and Career Center. Students may research careers or educational programs and receive assistance with career-related activities. (See page 15).
ACCREDITATION
Cosumnes River College is accredited by the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges of the Western Association of Schools and Colleges, 10 Commercial Blvd., Ste 204, Novato, CA 94949, phone (415) 506-0234, an institutional accrediting body recognized by the Commission on Recognition of Postsecondary Accreditation and the U.S. Department of Education. In addition, the Automotive Mechanics Technology program is certified by the National Automotive Technician Education Foundation in all eight areas of Automotive Service Excellence. The Veterinary Technology program has been accredited by the American Veterinary Medical Association, and the Medical Assisting program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP), on recommendation of the Committee on Accreditation for Medical Assistant Education. The Health Information Technology program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) in cooperation with the Council on Accreditation for Health Informatics and Information Management Education (CAHIIME) of the American Health Information Management Association. The Dietetic Technician Program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Dietetics Education of the American Dietetic Association. The University of California, California State University system, and all other accredited colleges and universities give full credit for appropriate courses completed at Cosumnes River College. The college holds institutional memberships in the American Association of Community and Junior Colleges and the Community College League of California.
STUDENT ACCESS
Cosumnes River College, as a member of the multi-college Los Rios Community College District, endorses the open door policy of the district. As a multi-cultural institution, its academic programs and services are open to all persons who are high school graduates or the equivalent who are 18 years of age or older and capable of benefitting from the education that is offered without regard to ethnic background, race, color, marital status, religion, national origin, age, age over forty, gender, sexual orientation, physical or mental disability or veteran status. These programs and services are open to all persons.
Equal Opportunity
CRC is committed to identifying and modifying any action that may alienate individuals and groups from each other. To do this, the college has:
- Established varied programs and services that ensure equal opportunities for women, minority, low-income, disabled, and disadvantaged students to succeed in all areas within the college program;
- Assured equal opportunity for ethnic minorities, disabled persons and women in the areas of employment, promotions and assignments; and
- Implemented programs to increase understanding and sensitivity among members of the majority group to the rising aspirations and occasionally unique needs of minority groups.
Open Courses
Cosumnes River College places an emphasis on providing both general education and high quality career/technical programs and is committed to offering day, evening, weekend and summer courses. The policy of this district is that, unless specifically exempted by statute or regulation, every course, course section, or class reported for state aid, wherever offered and maintained by the district, shall be fully open to enrollment and participation by any person who has been admitted to the college(s) and who meets such prerequisites as may be established.
HISTORY AND FACILITIES
Cosumnes River College is one of four community colleges within the Los Rios Community College District.
Los Rios Community College District
The Los Rios District was founded in July 1965 when voters in 10 separate school districts covering five counties opted to consolidate. The election established a regional community college district of 2,400 square miles and brought together, under one governing board, the then existing Sacramento City and American River colleges.
The newly established seven-member board approved a Master Facility Need Study in February 1967, of which plans for Cosumnes River College were a part. The plan called for a phased construction of facilities, with the first phase to be completed in the fall of 1970, to accommodate 2,000 students. Early in 1967 the Board of Trustees, the campus architects and a citizens’ advisory board studied various sites. Eventually a 180-acre site 12 miles south of metropolitan Sacramento was selected.
Cosumnes River College
The college opened on September 14, 1970, with 1,800 day and 350 evening students. At that time, facilities included the science building, automotive and technology complex, physical education building, pool, and the library building. In September 1975, the Business/Social Science classroom building was dedicated, the first since the college opened. The computer laboratory, located there, is equipped with state-of-the-art computer equipment that supports many areas of the college curriculum.
The campus now consists of 13 permanent buildings, including fiber optics and satellite transmission capabilities for the latest in information/ communication services. The Cafeteria/College Center opened in Fall 1990 with facilities for both the instructional foodservice program and student/staff needs. Phase II of the College Center opened in June 1991 for Admissions/Records, Financial Aid, Business Services, Administration and the Bookstore. A Visual and Performing Arts complex was opened in October of 1995, thus completing the college's original facilities master plan. In addition, the permanent Child Development Center was completed in March 2002, and in December, 2003 staff moved into the new Southeast Office Complex (SOC). In Fall 2005 the Learning Resource Center building was dedicated. Planning is underway for additional instructional facilities to be completed over the next few years.
Cosumnes River College has emerged with very much its own identity, small enough to offer personalized attention, yet large enough to offer a comprehensive postsecondary education to the community it serves.
Facilities Usage
In accordance with the Civic Center Act, the college is designated as a place for community functions of various kinds. College facilities are made available for use by authorized community groups when such use does not interfere with the educational program. To rent college facilities, contact College Operations at (916) 691-7251.
OUTREACH PROGRAMS
Cosumnes River College is committed to bringing the college to the community wherever there is sufficient student interest to support college classes.
Learning sites are tied to the main campus through the instructional television system. This system enables classes with a low enrollment at any one site to be offered by combining the students at several sites into one class and thereby enhancing learning opportunities.
Outreach students, as well as interactive television and online students, can now continue their education without being physically present on the main campus for each class. This flexibility has dramatically increased the educational opportunities available to Cosumnes River College students.
Greater Sacramento Small Business Development Center (SBDC)
The Sacramento Small Business Development Center offers personalized business counseling in:
- Business Management
- Finance Resource
- Marketing Strategy
To make a confidential appointment, call the SBDC at (916) 563‑3214 or E-mail: info@sbdc.net or visit us at www.sbdc.net. The SBDC is located at 1410 Ethan Way, between Hallmark and Hurley.
Contract Classes / Los Rios Community College District's Business and Economic Development Center Customized training and education for employers and their employees in the Sacramento area is offered by CRC in collaboration with the Los Rios CCD Training Source. Contract courses are scheduled at any time throughout the year and vary from a single workshop to a series of classes provided over a few weeks or months. The Center also conducts on-site college credit and degree programs; customized instruction for an employer's assessed training requirements; as well as performance consulting. Since 1985, the Center has provided training to more than 58,000 Sacramento area employees, including Intel, Bank of America, Aerojet General, SMUD, among others, and many state and local public agencies and school districts. For more information, call (916) 563‑3230.
How and Why You Should Use This Catalog
Would you start out on a road trip to a new place without first obtaining a map of where you’re going for the easiest route to get there? Probably not! It makes sense that before you invest time and money in your college education, you should take some time to plan your route. The College Catalog has “a great deal” of valuable information on how to map out your educational pathway. Reviewing the College Catalog is similar to logging onto the Internet for MapQuest, or other mapping directions; it can tell you the best way to get from Point A to Point Z.
A quick overview of the College Catalog can help you to better understand the following topics:
- The Academic Calendar for the summer, fall and spring semesters, outlining major deadlines and school holidays
- Admissions requirements and procedures
- A list of major programs of study, as well as degrees and certificates that are offered
- Graduation requirements
- Availability of student support services, such as tutoring, counseling, library services, financial assistance, just to name a few – to help you with career decision-making, problem resolution and goal achievement
- Detailed descriptions of courses, including prerequisites
- Lists of courses transferable to the major university systems in California
- And many other helpful tips
The best place to start when looking up information is the Index, which is located at the back of the catalog. Topics are listed in alphabetical order, making whatever you’re looking for easy to find – everything from Academic Regulations to Work Experience (Internship) opportunities. Spend some time perusing your College Catalog and keep it close to your work area, as you will want to consult it routinely throughout your college career.