Riverside City College - History

History

RCC first opened in 1916 at the same site as the Riverside Polytechnic High School (Riverside Poly). Originally known as Riverside City College or as Riverside Junior College, the school changed its name to Riverside Community College in the 1960s. In 2008, the Board of Trustees renamed the institution back to Riverside City College.

With the opening of school next fall, Riverside's Junior College will be at the disposal of those who see fit to take advantage of the newest educational facility. The school board realized that the benefits of such a school would be great and according to their March meeting voted to establish such a college. – Annonymous, 1919

The junior college expanded from the Riverside Poly campus and in 1924 constructed the first two buildings of the campus quadrangle in 1924. When Riverside Poly re-located to its own campus on Victoria Avenue in 1965 the college assumed total control of the Magnolia property.

Today, Riverside City College is part of the greater Riverside Community College District, which more than 21,000 students each semester. Students attending RCC may choose to earn an associate's degree, transfer to a four-year college or university or earn a career certificate.

In addition to the college located in downtown Riverside, there are other college locations in Moreno Valley, Norco, and several education centers including the Ben Clark Public Safety Training Center, the Center for Teaching Excellence at Stokoe, and the Rubidoux Annex in Rubidoux. RCC is also home to Gateway to College, a charter school that serves those returning to high school seeking diplomas as adults.

RCC maintains programs in liberal arts and science, athletics, and performing arts and vocational education. The school band is the RCC Marching Tigers, which includes the Fantasia Winter Guard, which has won several Winter Guard International awards, a Fall Marching Band, a Winter Drum Line, and a Spring Pep Band. The student newspaper is Viewpoints. The college is home to the School for Nursing.

RCC plans to open the Riverside School for the Arts by 2012 on University Avenue and Market Street, adjacent to the historic White Park. The $57 million dollar project will combine classrooms, studios, and digital media labs with space for public exhibitions and performances. The new school is expected to serve 1,600 students preparing for careers in the film industry and act as a feeder school for the film and visual culture BA program at the University of California, Riverside.

The Marching Band performed at the Tournament of Roses Parade in Pasadena, California on January 1, 2010, and at Bandfest at Pasadena City College.