Navigating the Academic Year at Cerritos College: A Comprehensive Guide to the Academic Calendar

Cerritos College, a cornerstone of higher education in southeastern Los Angeles County, provides a diverse student population with high-quality, comprehensive instructional programs and support services through clear, equity-minded pathways to their educational goals. Understanding the academic calendar is crucial for students, faculty, and staff to stay prepared and informed throughout the year. This article delves into the intricacies of the Cerritos College academic calendar, its structure, key components, and the factors influencing its design.

The Structure of the Academic Year

The Cerritos College Catalog represents an academic year beginning with the fall term and including the subsequent spring and summer terms. Typically, the academic year is divided into semesters lasting approximately 17-18 weeks each. Understanding the semester-based structure is fundamental for planning coursework, scheduling breaks, and staying on track for graduation.

Key Components of the Academic Calendar

The academic calendar encompasses a range of important dates and deadlines that impact students and faculty alike. These include:

Start and End Dates for Semesters: These dates define the official beginning and conclusion of each semester, dictating the period during which classes are held.
Registration Periods: These periods are designated for students to enroll in courses for the upcoming semester. Understanding registration timelines is essential to secure desired classes.
Add/Drop Deadlines: These deadlines mark the final dates for students to add or drop courses without academic penalty.
Holiday Breaks: The calendar incorporates breaks for major holidays, providing students and faculty with time off. For example, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day.
Final Exam Schedules: A crucial component, the final exam schedule outlines the dates and times for final examinations in each course. Final examinations for all day classes will be held according to a specific schedule. On the chart, the square identifies the starting day and time for your class during the regular semester to determine the date and two-hour time block for your final exam.
Graduation Dates: These dates mark the official conferral of degrees and certificates upon graduating students.
Petition Deadlines: Deadlines for filing petitions such as the A.A. 1 Petition. The First Day to File a Petition for A.A. 1.

Flexibility and Modularity: Intersessions and Alternative Scheduling

Beyond the traditional semester structure, Cerritos College may offer intersessions. Intersessions offer students a chance to take additional classes during the academic year, allowing students to fast-track their academic studies. They also offer additional employment opportunities for faculty.

Cerritos College also provides increased scheduling flexibility. This includes options like:

Live Remote/Online: There are required scheduled remote meetings in real-time that are noted in the schedule of classes.
Online: Fully online courses with no required in-person or real-time meetings.
Hybrid: A combination of online and in-person instruction.

All students who register for a class which includes online instruction (REMOTE, ONLINE, HYBRID) should log in to the Canvas site for additional information about class meetings and course requirements. Instructors may have different requirements related to the use of technology and specific software in their classes. In some classes, students may be required to use a computer/laptop/other device with a reliable webcam and microphone (e.g., to support proctoring software which records webcam and/or screen activity during quizzes and exams). Other classes may require the use of other software to track and/or control the import and export of content from various apps to ensure academic integrity during quizzes/exam. It is recommended that students reach out to the instructor prior to enrollment to clarify specific requirements.

Factors Influencing the Academic Calendar

Several factors influence the design and structure of the Cerritos College academic calendar:

Accreditation Standards: Accreditation bodies often set requirements for instructional time and the overall length of the academic year.
Transfer Requirements: The calendar must align with the requirements of four-year universities to facilitate seamless transfer for students.
Student Needs: The college considers the needs of its diverse student population when designing the calendar, including factors such as work schedules and family responsibilities.
Faculty Input: Faculty members play a crucial role in shaping the academic calendar, providing input on instructional time, breaks, and other key elements.

Considerations for a Compressed Calendar

Some community colleges have explored the possibility of transitioning to a compressed calendar, with semesters shorter than the traditional 17.5 weeks. While a compressed calendar offers the advantage of increased scheduling flexibility, allowing students to fast-track their academic studies, it also presents challenges.

Potential benefits of a compressed calendar include:

Accelerated Completion: Students can complete their degrees or certificates in a shorter time frame.
Increased Flexibility: A compressed calendar may allow for more frequent start dates and a wider variety of course offerings.
Potential for Increased Retention and Success: Some studies have indicated a 1 and 2% increase in student retention and success.

However, potential drawbacks must also be considered:

Loss of Instructional Time: A shorter semester inevitably leads to a reduction in the total instructional time available for each course.
Increased Workload: Students in compressed courses may face a more intense workload due to the accelerated pace.
Impact on Faculty: Faculty members may need to adjust their teaching methods and course content to accommodate the shorter semester.

When considering a compressed calendar, it's essential to evaluate the pros and cons of such a move. For each course that we have under the current semester length, require more instructional time per week. This includes the lab portion of any class.

Accessing the Academic Calendar

The most up-to-date version of the Cerritos College academic calendar is typically available on the college's website. Students can also consult the Cerritos College Catalog, which represents an academic year beginning with the fall term and including the subsequent spring and summer terms.

The Role of the Cerritos College Foundation

The Cerritos College Foundation, established in 1979, plays a vital role in supporting student success and advancing the college's academic excellence. The Foundation awards more than $250,000 a year in student scholarships and financial support for programs.

Cerritos College: A Legacy of Growth and Community Impact

Since opening its doors in 1955, Cerritos College has grown into a cornerstone of higher education for southeastern Los Angeles County. The college plays a pivotal role in the upward mobility of the communities of Artesia, Bellflower, Cerritos, Downey, Hawaiian Gardens, La Mirada, Norwalk, and South Gate, as well as portions of Bell Gardens, East Compton, Lakewood, Long Beach, Santa Fe Springs, and South Whittier. Now in its 70th year, the college continues to invest in its programs and infrastructure to grow and meet the needs of its community. Cerritos College is proud to offer programs and support services like Cerritos Complete and The Village - nationally recognized programs of excellence and innovation. In 2024, Cerritos College earned the Seal of Excelencia, recognizing its proven success for intentionally serving Latino students.

Cerritos College embraces community, diversity, innovation, and active learning. It strives for high academic and ethical standards, as well as academic freedom; believing in the worth and dignity of all of its learners. In educating, the college considers the learner’s cognitive growth and emotional and physical well-being. The college prepares individuals for full participation in a complex democratic society as citizens and leaders, for the fulfillment of personal needs, and for the future. The District provides a technologically advanced educational community in which students pursue a variety of educational goals: attainment of an associate degree, transfer to a four-year university, career/technical degree or certificate, or job skills. Achievement of these goals is strongly supported with instruction in basic skills as well as with student and instructional support services.

Cerritos College serves the common good by expanding the boundaries of knowledge and transmitting it imaginatively, preparing students for occupations and preparing them to live successfully in a free society. The exercise of academic freedom is necessary if society is to receive the benefits of honest intellectual search and unbiased transmittal of knowledge. Cerritos College scholars must be free from pressures or demands which restrict their intellectual searches. The transmittal of knowledge at Cerritos College shall not be impeded by special interests, conflicting public opinion, or unpopularity. Cerritos College shall avoid a climate of education in which either students or faculty dare not assert their ideas for fear of reprisal.

Campus Safety and Security

Cerritos College publishes an Annual Security Report in accordance with the Clery Act. This report includes statistics for the previous three years concerning reported crimes that occurred on-campus; in certain off-campus buildings or property owned or controlled by Cerritos College; and on public property within, or immediately adjacent to and accessible from, the campus. This report also includes institutional policies concerning campus security, such as policies concerning sexual assault, and other matters. A copy of this report can be obtained by contacting the Cerritos College Police Department in person or at (562) 924-3618.

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