Porterville College was established in 1927 as a part of the Porterville Union High School and College District and has been a unit of the Kern Community College District since July 1, 1967.
Porterville College is located at 100 East College Avenue, Porterville, California, at the base of the scenic High Sierra Mountain Range in southeastern Tulare County. The population of the Porterville urban area is approximately 40,000 persons and that of the surrounding service area is 90,000 persons. Porterville is the gateway to a vast mountain wonderland and recreational area. It is within three hours commuting time to the seashores of the Pacific or to the metropolitan Los Angeles area.
Porterville College is the northernmost college in the Kern Community College District, which serves an area of some 24,000 square miles in all or portions of Kern, Tulare, Inyo, and San Bernardino Counties. Other colleges in the district are Bakersfield College in Bakersfield and Cerro Coso Community College in Ridgecrest.
With students as our focus, Porterville College provides our local and diverse communities an excellent educational experience that fosters intellectual curiosity and growth, lifelong learning, and prepares our students for personal and academic success.
In support of our values and philosophy, Porterville College will:
Porterville College's core values define the character of the institution and are active ingredients in all that the College does. Through our commitment to these values the College can better serve and be more responsive to its students, staff, and community:
In support of our mission and values, Porterville College will base its decisions and actions upon the following beliefs:
The campus is located on approximately 60 acres and includes facilities for business, liberal arts, applied sciences, science, mathematics, communications, theater, library media center, trade and industry, child development center, fine arts, health, stadium and track, gymnasium, fitness center, swimming and diving pools, tennis courts, baseball and softball diamonds, horticulture complex, and ample parking.
The Porterville College Foundation is an incorporated non-profit organization which provides community support for Porterville College. Persons wishing to donate to special projects or receive additional information about the Foundation should contact the Office of Learning Outreach at (559) 791–2319, or see our web page (www.portervillecollege.edu/foundation).
Gifts and bequests may be designated for specific projects, presented in honor or memory of an individual, or designated as unrestricted gifts and bequests which can be used where the need is greatest.
“The Porterville College Foundation will support Porterville College in developing activities, programs and facilities to the best interest of students; will actively solicit gifts, bequests and other income; and will demonstrate prudent fiduciary responsibility in the administration of those funds.”
The schedule of classes is the official listing of courses. It is published each semester of the academic year. The schedule contains information regarding registration dates and special instruction for registering in classes.
The college reserves the right to make additions or deletions to the schedule of classes. Any class in which the enrollment is too small to justify continuance may be canceled.
Courses offered at Porterville College make possible the selection of curricula that meet the requirements for most regular college and university majors, technical-vocational curricula that prepare the student for productive life in the community, as well as general education.
The college offers a summer intersession between the spring and fall semesters. The program enables recent high school graduates to begin their college work early. It also allows college and university undergraduates to continue their college education close to home. In addition, many adults in the community take advantage of the summer school offerings for enrichment purposes or to upgrade job skills. The program includes regular credit classes and a few non-credit classes and fee courses.
Further information may be obtained by calling the Office of Admissions and Records at (559)-791-2220.
Porterville College is noted for the close academic relationship between faculty and students. The educational benefit of the student being able to know and talk personally with his or her instructor is an invaluable part of the instruction offered at Porterville College. Each member of the full-time faculty schedules office hours each week for this purpose. This schedule is posted outside the instructor’s office. Students are encouraged to take advantage of this opportunity, the benefits of which include:
• assistance in understanding and achieving specific course requirements,
• development of concepts and understanding beyond the course expectancies,
• insights into career opportunities within the instructor’s area of expertise,
• direction in meeting requirements in a transfer major, specifically if that major is within the instructor’s area of expertise.
Effective fall 2001, students may graduate under the major and general education requirements in effect:
• At the time of first enrollment as long as continuous enrollment is maintained, or
• The requirements in effect at the time of graduation.
Continuous enrollment is defined as enrollment in at least one semester during the academic year on a continuing basis including summer session. Any academic record symbol (A-F, CR, NC, I, IP, RD, W) shall constitute enrollment.
