Modesto Junior College (known more informally as MJC) is a public, two-year community college located in Modesto, California. MJC is part of Yosemite Community College District along with Columbia College. MJC, and Columbia College, belong to the California Community College system along with 109 other public community colleges.
MJC is fully accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) and Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges (ACCJC). The next accreditation inspection visit is scheduled for 2016 and the accrediting commission will act on the recommendation regarding the reaffirmation of the colleges’ accreditation status for the next six years in 2017.
MJC has two campuses in Modesto; the East Campus located at 435 College Ave and the West Campus located at 2201 Blue Gum Ave. 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.
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’’ what were termed "postgraduate courses of study" similar to the courses offered in just the first two years of university studies.
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.
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.
Campus
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 â€" 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 Jill Stearns. The district is governed by an elected seven-member Board of Trustees.
Academic profile
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. MJC is also home to an agricultural internship program in which students are given residence on West Campus. 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.
Student life
Sport
Modesto Junior College is a member of CCCAA. Sports teams are nicknamed the MJC Pirates and their colors are blue and white. Modesto Junior College offers Men's Baseball; 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.
MJC has the largest community college sports program in Northern California with 21 sports. MJC's current coaching staff includes Demitrius Snaer, Mary Shea, Rusty Stivers, Zeb Brayton, Eric Fischer, Milan Motroni, Ernie Campbell, Shawn Black, Mike Girardi, Ron Gross, Brenda Moser, Jesse Vazquez, Steve Aristotelous, Sebastian Gutierrez and Kelly Nasrawi. MJC's current athletic director is Nick Stavrianoudakis.
Notable people
- Oscar Zeta Acosta, Chicano Activist, Lawyer, and Author
- Matt Bettencourt, PGA Tour golfer who finished 1st on the Nationwide Tour money list in 2008.
- Shawn Boskie, former Major League Baseball Pitcher for the Chicago Cubs.
- Robert O. Briggs, longtime marching band director.
- George Lucas (creator of the Star Wars saga). He also wrote and produced American Graffiti, a nostalgic portrait of teenage life in early 1960s Modesto.
- Hiram Fuller, professional basketball player.
- Steve Gonzalez, American football player
- Dot Jones, Track and Field Olympian and Actress.
- Ray Lankford, played for the St. Louis Cardinals and San Diego Padres.
- Keith Luuloa, former MLB player.
- Gino Marchetti, former Defensive End for Baltimore Colts, NFL Hall of Famer.
- Jeff Moorad, former sports agent, now owns the San Diego Padres.
- Roger Nixon, composer.
- Alex Olmedo, former tennis player, Wimbledon champion (1959).
- Lindsay Pearce, Glee actress.
- Jeremy Renner, an actor nominated for an Academy Award for The Hurt Locker who also appeared in The Avengers.
Erick Threets, former San Francisco Giants.
- Paul Wiggin, former football player (Cleveland Browns) and coach (Stanford Cardinal and Kansas City Chiefs).
- Gary Condit, Served in the House of Representatives from 1989 to 2003.
References
External links
- Official website
