San Juan College (SJC, SJC, San Juan Community College, SJCC) Introduction and Academics

Introduction

San Juan College is a two-year community college in New Mexico that serves the public school districts of Aztec, Central Consolidated (Shiprock and Kirtland), Farmington and Bloomfield. The history of San Juan College dates back to 1956 when it was established as the Farmington Branch of the New Mexico College of Agriculture and Mechanical Arts and the first classes were held in the Farmington High School. The college was renamed San Juan Branch, NMSU in 1958. The college started the construction of a branch campus spread over 590 acres in 1966-67 after it received federal grants. Over the years, the college grew exponentially and got an approval for separation from NMSU. In 1982, the college was established as an independent community college and was renamed as the Junior College District of San Juan County, or informally as the San Juan College.

San Juan College is comprised of several academic schools including the School of Business, School of Continuing Education and Community Development, School of Energy, School of Health Sciences, School of Extended Learning, School of Science, School of Trades and Technology, and the School of Humanities. The college has five campuses at Farmington, San Juan College East, San Juan College West, 30th Street Center, and Hutton Street Center.

San Juan College is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission’s Academic Quality Improvement Project as a degree-granting institution.

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Information Summary

Ranks 23rd in New Mexico and 2654th overall. See the entire top 2,000 colleges and universities list
Overall Score (about)	55.3
Total Cost On-Campus Attendance	$2,966
Admission Success rate	N/A
Student Ratio Students-to-Faculty	16 : 1
Retention (full-time / part-time)	57% / 36%
Enrollment Total (all students)	6,679

Academics

San Juan College offers both degree and certificate programs to its students. Programs offered include the Associate of Science and Associate of Arts degrees for students who want to transfer to a four-year university to complete a baccalaureate degree. The Associate of Arts degrees are offered for different areas of study such as Business Administration, Economics, Outdoor Leadership, Recreation and Physical Education, Early Childhood Education, Elementary, Secondary, and Special Education. The college offers the Associate of Science degree program in areas such as Chemistry, Geology, Computer Science, Engineering, Biology, General Science, Geography, Physics, and Pre-Medical Sciences.

The college also offers the Associate of Applied Science (A.A.S.) degree programs for students who want to take up a profession directly after completing their courses. Students opting for the Associate of Applied Science degree program can major in areas such as Digital Media Arts and Design, Business Administration, Health Information Technology (HIT), Dental Hygiene; Surgical Technology, and Horticulture.

San Juan College offers various career-specific certificate programs in areas such as Business Administration, Computer Science Technology, Medical Insurance Coder/Biller, and Surgical Technology. The programs are aimed at students who are looking for an immediate entry into the workforce.

Most Popular Fields of Study

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Admissions

San Juan College has an open-door admissions policy wherein any student who is at least 18 years of age and who has graduated from high school or has a GED certificate can apply for admission. Students who do not meet these criteria can still apply for admission and their applications are considered on an individual basis.

Regular degree-seeking first-time students need to graduate from an accredited high school. To apply for admission to San Juan College, students are required to submit their official transcripts specifying their graduation date. They are also required to appear for the Accuplacer college placement test. Students who are under the age of 16 years are required to apply for the Underage Student Release Waiver.

International students need to submit the application for admission and a certificate of finances to demonstrate availability of funds to finance the education expenses for a year. They are required to submit their secondary school or college transcripts and provide evidence of their proficiency in English by submitting their TOEFL scores. They are also required to appear for the Accuplacer college placement test.

Financial Aid

San Juan College participates in a variety of financial aid programs to help students meet their educational expenses. The basic objective of providing financial aid is to bridge the gap between family resources and annual educational expenses of the students enrolled for various programs at the San Juan College. The different forms of financial aid available to students include federal and state grants, loans, work-study opportunities, and scholarships. To apply for financial aid from the San Juan College, students are required to submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to the U.S. Department of Education. San Juan College recommends a priority deadline of April 1 to apply for financial aid.

Different types of federal and state aid programs that provide financial assistance to the students of the San Juan College include the Federal Pell Grant, Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant, College Affordability Grant, and New Mexico Student Incentive Grants (SSIG). Students may also be eligible for Federal Direct Stafford Loans and Federal Direct Parent PLUS Loans. Different student employment options include on-campus part-time employment and off-campus part-time employment – community service, state work-study, and other regular part-time jobs. Various scholarships available for the students of the San Juan College include the SJC Foundation Scholarships, Legislative Lottery Scholarships, Native American Scholarship, and the Possible Dream Scholarship.

Student Financial Aid Details

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Students

The students of San Juan College are actively encouraged to participate in co-curricular activities, which are vital for the development of a well-rounded personality. The college offers numerous opportunities to students for enriching their college experience with social, cultural, educational, and recreational activities. The Student Activities office is responsible for arranging various events. The Student Ambassador program provides the selected students with an opportunity to gain valuable work experience, campus recognition, letters of recommendations, and leadership training. The San Juan College has various clubs and organizations such as American Indian Science & Engineering Society, Medical Lab Technician Club, Phi Theta Kappa, Role Playing Game Club, and Surgical Technology Club. The student newspaper is known as Campus Buzz and provides a platform for students to express their voice. The Advising and Counseling Center provides valuable academic, personal, and career guidance to the students.

Student Enrollment Demographics

Athletics

San Juan College encourages students to participate in intramural activities. There are numerous club sports which students are recommended to join as they provide an excellent platform to hone their leadership and decision-making skills, such as basketball, volleyball, and mountain biking. The athletics facilities available at San Juan College include a Fitness Conditioning Center featuring a variety of weight stack, free weight, circuit and cardiovascular equipment. The San Juan College also has an Assessment Lab for measuring the key components of physical fitness. The college features an indoor climbing wall which is one of the largest in the west.

Bibliography

San Juan College. Academics. Web. 07 September 2011.

San Juan College. Financial Aid. Web. 07 September 2011.

San Juan College. San Juan College 2011-2012 Academic Catalog. 2011. Print.