Santa Fe Community College
- For the two-year college in Gainesville, Florida, see Santa Fe College
Santa Fe Community College (SFCC) is a public two-year Community college located in Santa Fe, New Mexico. The college offers more than 72 degrees and certificate programs and caters to the academic, career and personal-enrichment needs of local residents, businesses, government and public service organization. The school enrolls more than 14,500 students per year. More than 274 full-time and 587 part-time employees work at SFCC.
In addition to programs for students intent on transferring to four-year institutions, SFCC also offers a variety of occupational specialties including culinary arts, criminal justice and gallery management. The college also provides a number of career-oriented programs in fields like nursing, emergency medical technician response and dental health.
SFCC also houses regionally recognized programs in fine woodworking, media arts, fine arts and film. Its culinary arts program recently entered into a collaboration with Trident Technical College of Charleston, South Carolina for student and teaching exchanges.
Campus
The Santa Fe Community College Campus sits on 366 acres (1.48 km2) of high desert land off Richards Avenue, south of Rodeo Road, about 12 miles (19 km) southwest of Santa Fe's downtown. The SFCC District is identical to the Santa Fe Public School District and includes the outlying areas of Glorieta, Madrid, Cerrillos, Lamy, La Cienega, Galisteo and Tesuque. It covers most of Santa Fe County, which has a population of 144,000 residents (2010 US Census).
Academics and Careers
Santa Fe Community College offers 87 degree and certificate programs:
- 15 Associate in Arts degrees: Accounting, American Sign Language Interpreting, Architectural Design, Business Administration, Criminal Justice, Early Childhood Education, Fine Arts, General Studies (various concentrations), Human Services, Legal Studies, Media Arts, Photography, Psychology, Spanish Language, and Teacher Education.
- 5 Associate in Science degrees: Biological Sciences, Computer Science, General Studies, General Engineering, and Physical Sciences.
- 4 Associate in Applied Arts degrees: Fashion Design, Gallery Management, Photography, and Professional Crafts.
- 16 Associate in Applied Science degrees: Business Administration, Computer and Information Technologies, Criminal Justice, Culinary Arts, Dental Health, Drafting and Engineering Technologies, Early Childhood Education, Environmental Technologies, Exercise Science, General Studies, Film, Interior Design, Media Arts, Nursing, Paralegal Studies, and Respiratory Therapy.
- 47 Certificate programs: Academic Transfer, Accounting Specialist, American Sign Language Interpreting, Architectural Design, Bilingual Education Endorsement, Biofuels, Computer Aided Drafting, Creative Writing, Criminal Investigation, Culinary Arts, Dental Assisting, Drafting Technologies, Engineering Technologies, Entrepreneurship, Environmental Technologies, Facility Technologies, Fashion Design, Film Crew, Fine Woodworking, Fitness Instructor Training, Green Building Construction Skills, Green Building Systems, Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC), Hospitality and Tourism, Interior Design, Kitchen and Bath Design, Media Arts - Audio Production, Media Arts - Graphic and Interactive Design, Media Arts - Web Design, Medical Assistant, Nutrition, Office Management, Paralegal Studies, Paramedicine, Patissier, Phlebotomy, Plumbing, Police Supervision, Solar Energy, Substance Abuse Prevention, Teacher Certification - Early Childhood Education, Teacher Certification - Elementary Education, Teacher Certification - Secondary Education, Teacher Certification - Special Education, Teacher Certification - TESOL, Traumatic Stress Aide, Water Treatment Operation.
- SFCC also offers a dual credit program, designed to enable area high school students to take college courses for credit at both schools.
Media
- The college produces “Campus Connection,” a public affairs talk show on news and newsmakers from SFCC that airs every other Sunday at 1 p.m. on Santa Fe Public Radio KSFR 101.1 FM. The half-hour radio magazine offers up discussion on current and special events connecting the college with the Santa Fe community at large.
- SFCTV is a community access television channel operated by Santa Fe Community College in cooperation with City of Santa Fe to encourae the widest possible diversity of information sources and services responsive to the needs and interests of the public and to ensure access to media for local interests. The station's mission is to provide opportunities for individual, educational, civic and charitable groups to produce and cablecast programs that will promote open expression, bilingual education, economic growth, public forums and enrichment of the multicultural, artistic and civic aspects of life in Santa Fe.
Academic Success
On average, 97% of SFCC nursing students who take the NCLEX (National Council Licensure EXamination) exam pass it, no less than 95% on the first try.
Approximately 97% of students sitting for the Teacher Assessment Exam passed over the past three years, exceeding state averages.
Sustainability
Highlights:
- SFCC made sustainability an integral part of the strategic plan it developed in 2006. All of its actions include an eye toward sustainability, adopting a green and system-wide approach, and adapting new and emerging technologies that reduce impacts on the environment.
- President Sheila Ortego was one of two community college representatives in the country asked to share their campus sustainability models with attendees of the American Association of College’s Future Leaders Institute in Chicago.
- In April 2009, Governor Bill Richardson praised the college during highly publicized green bill-signing ceremony, calling SFCC “a nationally recognized leader in the use of green technology.”
- In June 2007, SFCC hosted a major Sustainability Forum where industry leaders and educators came together to address needs and training ideas for the future.
- Two new SFCC facilities, the Health and Sciences Building and the Trades and Advanced Technologies Building, have achieved LEED Gold certification.
- A biomass boiler produces about 90% of hot water for building heating.
- A solar thermal array heats water for the therapeutic pool.
- Smoking is banned from all indoor areas and designated outdoor smoking areas are located away from doorways and air intake grills. CO2 monitoring is installed at return air handlers above 5 HP to increase ventilation when high levels are detected above 800 PPM.
- Irrigation of all campus landscaping and recreational fields uses treated effluent. Potable water is used only at the Early Childhood Development Center and Visual Arts courtyards.
- All gray and black water is captured and treated on-site.
- Light fixtures use the most efficient fluorescent lamps and fluorescent fixtures are recycled.
- A recycling program diverts cardboard, plastic, and aluminum cans from landfill.
- The existing 800-watt solar PV system is grid-tied.
- The college is in early stages of developing green purchasing practices and raising awareness about green products.
- All exterior fixtures comply with New Mexico Night Sky Protection Act.
Sustainable Technologies Center
- The building is devoted to workforce training and education in green construction, plumbing and HVAC, electrical trades, and renewable energy fields including biofuels, smart grid, solar and small wind.
- The $11.4 million facility gained LEED Gold certification and uses alternative energy sources to power, heat and cool the building.
- The building is designed by Lloyd & Associates Architects of Santa Fe.
- Design features include rainwater catchment; solar systems to provide hot water, electricity, heating and air conditioning; small wind for electricity; and a space for business and technology-specific demonstration and training.
History
Established in 1983, Santa Fe Community College has grown rapidly, both in enrollment and campus expansion. Construction has been guided by a long-range campus development plan, first adopted in 1984. Phase I opened in August 1988; Phase II - the William C. Witter Fitness Education Center - opened in February 1993; a new classroom wing opened in fall 1994; new technical and occupational labs were completed in 1995; the Early Childhood Development Center opened in fall 1996; the Visual Arts Center held its first classes in fall 1999; and the Instructional Technology Center (ITC) opened in fall 2001.
In the financial year of 2006-2007, SFCC received over $8.3 million in grant dollars from fedeal, state, local and private sources to assist students with scholarships, loans and services including tutoring, advising, career services and counseling.
Picture gallery
External links
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