American River College

American River College
Type	Public community college
Established	1955; 69 years ago
Parent institution	Los Rios Community College District
President	Melanie Dixon
Students	42,141 (2013-2014)
Location	Sacramento, California, United States
Campus	suburban
Colors
Nickname	Beavers
Mascot	Bucky the Beaver
Website	arc.losrios.edu

American River College (ARC) is a public community college in unincorporated Sacramento, California. It is part of the California Community Colleges System.^[3]

History

The college was opened in 1955 as American River Junior College (ARJC), on the site of the old Grant Technical College. It moved to its current location in 1958, occupying eight newly built office complexes and the original Cameron ranch house. In 1965 the college became a part of the Los Rios Community College District and became American River College. Today, along with Cosumnes River College, Folsom Lake College and Sacramento City College, ARC is directed by a seven-member board of trustees elected by voters residing in the district.

The climactic police showdown of the 1986 Emilio Estevez and Demi Moore film Wisdom was filmed on the American River campus, including in and around Beaver Stadium.

During the period of 2004–2013, the college opened a variety of new facilities, including buildings for Health Education, Theater & Music, Kinesiology, and Life Science and Fine Arts. In addition, the college also expanded its bookstore and library and opened a new Student Center and parking garage. In 2014 the college opened the 19,000 square foot Evangelisti Culinary Arts Center, which houses the college's hospitality management program and student-run Oak Cafe restaurant and bakery. In 2021 the college opened the 57,000 square foot Diane Bryant STEM Innovation Center, which houses a variety of academic programs.

In 2008, the student government supported California Proposition 8 which sought to restrict marriage to opposite-sex couples.^[4] In 2010 the Board of Trustees lost a lawsuit^{[clarification needed]} against the student government.^[5]^[6]

Campus

The college occupies a 155-acre (63 ha) site on the old Cameron Ranch in northern Sacramento County.

Academics

The college enrolls about 35,000 full-time and part-time students, making it one of the largest community colleges in California. ARC has published its own literary journal since 1984, the American River Review, which has won numerous national awards and recognitions, including the National Pacemaker Award from the Associated Collegiate Press and Gold Crowns from the Columbia Scholastic Press Association.

It transfers more students to UC Davis and CSU Sacramento than any other community college. Non-transfer students may enroll for certification in technical/vocational programs, continuing education credit, or personal enrichment. The college also offers three different types of online learning: online, hybrid, and web-enhanced.

Student life

The campus has its own newspaper, the American River Current, and its own English as a Second Language newsletter, The Parrot.

Athletics

The college athletics teams are nicknamed the Beavers.

Notable people

Lloyd Connelly – California Superior Court judge and former California State Assembly member
Ward Connerly – Former UC Regent and political activist
Wally Herger – Member, United States House of Representatives (California, 2nd Congressional District)
Ewa Klamt – German politician and Member of the European Parliament for Lower Saxony
Adrian Lamo – Former grey-hat computer hacker, key figure in Chelsea Manning case, journalist
Joan Lunden – TV host/personality
Brian Posehn – Comedian, co-star of The Sarah Silverman Program
Anthony Padilla – Co-founder of Smosh
Ian Hecox – Co-founder of Smosh
Anthony Swofford – Author of Jarhead
Richard Trenton Chase – Serial killer

Notable sportspeople

Steve Andrade – professional baseball player
Dusty Baker – professional baseball player and manager
Devontae Booker – professional football player
Dallas Braden – professional baseball player
Jarrett Bush – professional football player
Tony Eason – professional football player
Robert Hight – professional racecar driver
Steve Holm – professional baseball player
Mike Lincoln – professional baseball player
Don Lofgran – professional basketball player
Jim Loscutoff – professional basketball player
Bill McNulty – professional baseball player^[7]
Debbie Meyer – Olympic swimmer
Bob Oliver – professional baseball player
Manny Parra – professional baseball player
John Vukovich – professional baseball player and manager
Gerald Willhite – professional football player

References

^ "Melanie Dixon to Serve as American River College's Next President". arc.losrios.edu. November 12, 2020. Retrieved 27 February 2021.
^ "2017 Student Success Scorecard". Scorecard.cccco.edu. Retrieved 1 October 2017.
^ "Lisa Cardoza Named New President of American River College". arc.losrios.edu. Retrieved 2023-08-21.
^ "Protect Marriage - Yes on 8".
^ Case 2:09-cv-02446-LKK-GGH UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA
^ "YouTube". Youtube.com. Retrieved 1 October 2017.^{[dead YouTube link]}
^ Greene, Nelson. "Bill McNulty". Society for American Baseball Research. Retrieved May 1, 2024.