ON CAMPUS AT OCC: OCC’s 60th academic year under way

With the opening of fall classes last Monday, Orange Coast College launched its 60th academic year.

The college officially became an entity Jan. 27, 1947, when local voters approved a ballot measure establishing the Orange Coast Junior College District. The first classes were offered Monday, Sept. 13, 1948.

A total of 515 students were attracted to the college that first semester. Thirty-three faculty members taught classes.

The new college was on 243 acres, carved from the deactivated 900-acre Santa Ana Army Air Base. The base had served as a pre-flight school for Army Air Corps cadets.

Over the next six decades, OCC grew from a collection of wooden barracks buildings into a leader among America’s 1,200 community colleges. More than 1.5 million students have enrolled in OCC credit classes over the years, and today a huge $240-million construction campaign is being carried out across the campus.

With a student population that will exceed 25,000 this fall, Orange Coast ranks third among California’s 109 community colleges in combined transfers it sends to the University of California and California State University systems. Orange Coast College is No. 1 in transfers to the 23-campus CSU system, and is the largest feeder school to UC Irvine.

Thousands of students enroll annually in OCC’s more than 130 highly acclaimed career and technical programs.

When the college first opened for classes in 1948, it sat by itself in “the middle of nowhere,” far from residential and commercial outposts. It was in an unincorporated area — derisively labeled “Goat Hill” by locals — on a plateau above the Pacific. Several miles away were the established beach communities of Newport and Huntington. The plateau featured little more than a collection of sweeping bean fields, some scattered wooden farmhouses and cottages, and an abundance of tumbleweeds.

Founding OCC President Basil H. Peterson guided the college for 17 years, until his retirement in 1964. Orange Coast has since had eight presidents. Its current president, Robert V. Dees, assumed the post in 2005.

 OCC opens fall classes with 5.4% growth

OCC opened fall semester classes Monday with a 5.4% increase in enrollment, according to figures released by the college’s Enrollment Services Department.

OCC began fall 2007 classes with 21,985 students. That compares with 20,853 for opening day last year.

Although fall classes began Monday, many additional classes will get under way throughout the semester. The college’s fall schedule is posted on the college’s website, www.orangecoastcollege.edu. Printed copies are available in Watson Hall. Schedules for the college’s winter intersession 2008 and spring semester 2008 are also posted on the website.

For registration information, phone (714) 432-5072.

 Department offeres Pilates lecture series

OCC’s dance department will host its first Pilates Speaker Series this fall for students and community members.

The series of 10 lecture-demonstrations will meet from 11:15 a.m. to 1:20 p.m. Tuesdays, Sept. 4 through Dec. 4, in the college’s Pilates Studio in Arts Center 148. Admission to individual lectures is free for OCC students, and $10 for members of the community.

Speakers will include Pilates instructors, physical therapists, OCC faculty members and former dance students of the college. Topics will cover such subjects as Pilates and pregnancy, Pilates for athletes, Pilates for better shoulder function and Pilates as a business.

Karen Shanley, founder of the college’s Pilates Program, and former dance department chairwoman, will be the series’ guest of honor Nov. 13.

For ticket information, phone (714) 432-5880.