Citrus College: Empowering Students Through Education and Support

Citrus College, situated in Glendora, California, stands as a public community college committed to providing students with quality educational experiences and support services. These services are designed to facilitate the successful completion of degrees, transfer programs, certificates, and career and technical education. Whether you're a new, returning, or continuing student, Citrus College aims to help you reach your academic and career aspirations.

A Foundation of Education: From High School to College

The origins of Citrus College date back to 1891 with the founding of Citrus Union High School, catering to students from Azusa and Glendora. In 1915, educator Floyd S. Hayden broadened the institution's scope by introducing a junior college. From 1915 to 1961, the Citrus Union High School District managed the school as both a high school and a junior college.

Academic Programs and Opportunities

Citrus College offers a wide array of academic programs to suit diverse interests and career goals. Students can choose from over 75 associate degree options, nearly 35 associate degrees for transfer, and 45 associate of arts and associate of science degrees. In addition to degrees, the college provides more than 115 certificate and skill awards, allowing students to gain specialized knowledge and skills in their chosen fields.

During the 2019-2020 academic year, Citrus College enrolled 19,626 students. The college conferred 2,444 degrees and awarded 2,175 certificates, demonstrating its commitment to student success.

Personalized Support and Guidance

Citrus College recognizes the importance of personalized support in helping students achieve their academic goals. Once you select your academic pathway, you will receive personalized academic counseling and guidance. The college's student services team offers mental health support, basic needs assistance, career services, and more.

Dual Enrollment Program

The Dual Enrollment program at Citrus College fosters an inclusive, equity-centered environment that supports students from diverse backgrounds. Through comprehensive wrap-around services and a holistic case management framework, the program promotes student success, supports degree and certificate attainment, and empowers high school students by providing transformative college course experiences.

Through a College and Career Access Pathways (CCAP) partnership agreement between Citrus College and participating high school districts, students can enroll in college courses held during their regular high school schedule. These courses allow students to earn both high school and college credit at no cost. Tuition, fees, and materials are completely FREE under the CCAP agreement. Note: Degree and certificate pathways may vary based on the specific Dual Enrollment CCAP agreement between the high school and Citrus College.

Concurrent Enrollment allows high school students to take college courses offered on the Citrus College campus or through online modalities (synchronous or asynchronous). Students must obtain approval from their high school to participate. While tuition fees are waived for up to 11 units, students are responsible for college-related fees, textbooks, and course materials as applicable.

Whether enrolled through Dual Enrollment or Concurrent Enrollment, students are considered college students and are eligible to access a wide array of Citrus College programs and services, including academic counseling, tutoring and learning support, library services, career and transfer resources, and student success workshops.

Resources and Support Services

Citrus College is committed to providing students with the resources and support they need to succeed. The college offers a wide range of services, including:

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Admissions and Records Program

The Admissions and Records Program, located on the first floor of the Student Services Building, serves as the gateway to Citrus College. The program processes academic petitions, applications for admission, graduation/certificate applications, grades, registration, residency, transcripts, and enrollment verifications.

Basic Needs Office

The Basic Needs Office at Citrus College provides resources to students experiencing food and housing insecurity. The Basic Needs coordinator can help students address unmet needs for food, toiletries, and emergency shelter by providing campus resources and referrals to community organizations.

Black Scholars Program

The Ross L. Black Scholars program is designed to promote Black excellence through history, scholarship, and community.

Bookstore, Coffee, Dining and Other Retail Services

Enterprise Services supports the Citrus College mission by ensuring access to affordable materials, supplies, services, and sustenance necessary for learning and teaching excellence. Enterprise Services consists of three categories separated into contract, district, and retail. Contract includes all contracted services with beverage, bookstore, food services, and vending. Retail includes all retail services at Cosmetology/Esthetics Spa, Range Pro Shop, and The Print Shop.

Enterprise Services' goal is to provide a safe, friendly, accessible environment where students, alumni, faculty, staff and visitors may optimize their academic, career, and cultural development. Enterprise Services provides access to materials and services necessary for increasing student success and completion, creating an inviting place to experience, shop, eat, and safely spend time between classes, and providing premier customer service and focused individual assistance to customers with specialized needs. Services are available to the entire campus and local community.

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Campus Enterprise Locations:

Art and Coffee Bar: Located on the first floor in the Student Services building, the Art and Coffee Bar offers Starbucks brewed coffee, pastries, sandwiches, salads, snacks, and student created art.
Cosmetology and Esthetics Spas: Spa locations are on the first floors of the PC and TC buildings at the east end of campus, students can make appointments in room TC118 or call (626) 335-1234 for their hair and skin needs. Hair and skin care products are also available for sale to spa customers.
Golf Range: The Range at Citrus, a non-profit golf practice center, features some 30 tees with two hitting surfaces - natural grass (available Wednesday) and mats - along with various targets and markers, a chipping area with a bunker, and a 2,500 sq. ft. putting/chipping green. The Range offers small, medium, and large size buckets of Srixon golf balls. The well-lighted golf driving range offers a well stocked pro shop to provide added convenience. The Range at Citrus is an instructional facility and will be open to the public as often as resources and availability permit.
Owl Bookshop: Located at the center of campus adjacent to the Campus Center offering a one stop shop, visit the Owl Bookshop in person or online. New, used, digital and rental course materials are available and can be shipped to you or picked up in person. In addition to course materials, the Owl Bookshop also carries educational and office supplies, trade books, sundries, gifts, greeting cards, electronics, apparel, imprinted merchandise, snacks, drinks, and gift cards.
Owl Café: The Owl Café, located downstairs from the Campus Center, offers a wide range of vending snack selections and a place to meet and eat. Wireless access is also available. A food truck is located in front of the campus center for hot and cold food selections.
Reprographics: Located between the CI and MA buildings, Citrus College Reprographics serves the academic, administrative, affiliated departments, as well as students and all staff across campus with a dedication to enhancing and promoting the college through high-quality printed materials. In addition, Walk-In service is available at The Print Shop to support students and staff with their individual printing needs.
Vending: Beverage machines are available throughout campus.

CalWORKs Program

California Work Opportunity and Responsibility for Kids (CalWORKs) is the state’s welfare-to-work program for families with children that are receiving Temporary Aid for Needy Families (TANF). The Citrus College CalWORKs Program works in collaboration with the Department of Public Social Services to assist students with education, training, and job skills. Citrus College provides short-term training programs to help CalWORKs students enhance their skills and/or develop new skills in order to find employment and become self-sufficient. CalWORKs students receive assistance with completion of county paperwork, childcare documentation, work-study job placement, and referrals to community resources. Additionally, CalWORKs students have the opportunity to establish education and career paths, which will help them as they transition off of cash aid. CalWORKs counselors are available to provide students with academic, career and personal counseling. CalWORKs counselors also assist students with communicating with their county social worker, understanding time limits for benefits, and preventing county sanctions.

Campus Safety

Campus Safety ensures the safety of students, faculty, staff and visitors while they are on campus property or involved in college-sponsored programs and activities, as well as protects district property and facilities. Campus Safety officers patrol the campus 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. According to the Education Code, Campus Safety is the liaison with local law enforcement agencies in all criminal action cases. Therefore, in the event of an emergency, individuals should promptly report the incident to Campus Safety. It is Campus Safety’s responsibility to contact police agencies. Campus Safety has the authority to enforce the sections of the Penal Code, California Vehicle Code, Education Code, Board Policies and Administrative Procedures, and the Standards of Conduct. Any action which is a violation of the Penal Code of the State of California must be reported to the local police. Campus Safety also provides safety escorts for any member of the college community. These escorts are for safety, not convenience.

Career/Transfer Center

The Career/Transfer Center (CTC) provides career counseling services and transfer guidance to assist students in the acquisition of their academic, transfer, and career goals. If you plan to continue your studies at a four-year university, schedule an appointment with a counselor at your college's transfer center.

Citrus College Promise Program

The Citrus College Promise program prepares new first time students who participated in the college's Early Decision program to be successful college students and complete their educational goals.

Counseling and Advisement Center

The Counseling and Advisement Center is located on the second floor of the Student Services Building. Academic counselors and educational advisors are available to assist students in their educational, vocational and personal matters. Consistent use of counseling and advisement is recommended due to frequent changes in requirements for colleges and universities as well as new developments in career opportunities. Students are encouraged to meet with a counselor as soon as possible, but no later than after completing 15 semester units of degree applicable course work or prior to the end of the second semester, to develop a student education plan (SEP). The SEP will outline the courses needed to complete your educational goal.

Disabled Student Programs and Services (DSPS)

DSPS provides reasonable academic accommodations to students who have a verifiable disability that limits one or more major life activities. Students with a physical disability, visual or auditory impairment, mental health condition, permanent or temporary health concerns, or a learning disability can receive assistance from specialized personnel as it relates to accommodations in their academic courses.

Services and instructional support may include:

Adapted physical education
Adapted testing
Adaptive computer technology
Alternative media (Braille, electronic text, large print)
Assistive technology training
Campus and community referrals
Computer Assisted Real Time (CART) captioning services
Disability Management Counseling
Educational Assistance Courses (EAC)
Instructor liaisons
Learning disability assessment
Scribe assistance
Registration assistance
Sign language interpreting

New students should upload disability verification and complete the online DSPS application. Enroll as early as possible to allow sufficient time to arrange for services.

Dream Resource Center

The Dream Resource Center (DRC), located in the Ross L. Handy Campus Center, aims to create a supportive and inclusive environment for undocumented, AB 540, DACAmented students and students in mixed-status families. The DRC was established in January 2021 and is staffed by an UndocuLiaison who supports students by connecting them with resources, services, programming, and opportunities. The DRC's mission is to increase undocumented students' access to higher education and completion.

EOPS/CARE/NextUp

The Extended Opportunity Programs and Services/Cooperative Agencies Resources for Education/NextUp (EOPS/CARE/NextUp) Program helps community college students from economically and educationally disadvantaged backgrounds achieve their academic and career goals. EOPS/CARE/NextUp is a counseling program designed to provide information and assistance in admissions, enrollment, financial aid, and selecting a major and/or a career.

EOPS also provides:

Support services such as priority registration, textbook purchase assistance, career test fee waivers, tutoring and self-development workshops.
Counselors who provide academic, career and personal counseling.
Peer advising designed to retain students using mentors and positive role models.
Outreach to high schools, community-based organizations and agencies.
Referrals to other services available on campus and in the community.
A six-week Summer Bridge Program where potential students from local high schools attend class, learn college success strategies and visit local universities.

The CARE Program, established by the California Legislature (AB 3103), assists EOPS students who are single parents on public assistance with at least one child. Students participating in CARE receive supplemental educational support services, such as counseling, advisement and peer networking activities specifically designed for low-income, single parents. In addition, CARE provides grants and allowances for childcare, transportation, textbooks, and supplies to ensure strong retention, persistence, and transfer rates among their students as they work to achieve their educational objectives.

Foster and Kinship Care Education (FKCE)/Guardian Scholars

The Citrus College Foster and Kinship Care Education and RFA programs provide…

Athletics

Citrus College is a member of the Western State Conference and Southern California Football Association. The college's athletic teams are known as the Owls. The college currently fields eight men's and eight women's varsity teams. Intercollegiate sports include basketball, football, golf, cross country, water polo, soccer, baseball, softball, swimming, and volleyball.

Competitive Athletics Eligibility

All student-athletes prior to their first season of competition at Citrus College must have official high school and college transcripts on file in the Admissions and Records Office to receive final eligibility certification. The California Community College Athletic Association governs Citrus College’s athletic eligibility rules.

To be eligible, a student-athlete must:

Enroll in a minimum of 12 units during participation in a sport. Nine of these units must be in academic courses. Class attendance is required.
Second-season student-athletes must pass 24 semester units, 18 of which must be in academic courses, before participating in their second season of sport. A 2.0 GPA (cumulative) is required.
Student-athletes who transfer and have participated in intercollegiate athletics at another college are required to: Complete 24 semester units, 18 of which must be in academic courses; or Complete 36-quarter units, 27 of which must be in academic classes, before being eligible for a second season of participation. A 2.0 GPA (cumulative) is required.
Student-athletes transferring from a California community college who participated in intercollegiate athletics must complete 3 units in residence prior to the beginning of the semester of competition.
Student-athletes transferring from an out-of-state community college must be eligible to participate in the upcoming season if they were to remain at that institution.
Student-athletes who plan to transfer to a four-year college must follow specific transfer eligibility requirements.

A Vibrant Campus Life

Citrus College offers a vibrant campus life with numerous opportunities for students to get involved. The college has student organizations and college-wide activities. The Haugh Performing Arts Center (HPAC), located on campus, is a 1,440-seat proscenium venue that hosts over 140 performances annually, with over 100,000 patrons in attendance. Getting involved on campus is another great way to develop life skills and get to know your fellow students.

Commitment to Free Speech

Citrus College has faced scrutiny regarding its policies on free speech. In 2003, under the pressure of litigation and FIRE's national campaign for campus constitutional rights, the Citrus College Board of Trustees voted to rescind most of the speech codes at the public institution. However, Citrus College was sued again by FIRE in the early 2010s when it reinstated its policy after a Young Americans for Liberty chapter, led by Gabriel Nadales and Vincenzo Sinapi-Riddle, was threatened with sanctions for not staying inside the "Free Speech Zone." In an interview with the San Gabriel Valley Tribune, Greg Lukianoff, the president of FIRE, said, "Citrus College agreed to eliminate its restrictive 'free speech zone' in the face of a FIRE lawsuit back in 2003, but later reinstated its speech quarantine when it thought no one was watching … but FIRE was watching, and we'll continue to do so." In 2014, Citrus College agreed to pay $110,000 to settle a student's First Amendment lawsuit.

Notable Alumni

Citrus College has a number of notable alumni, including:

Dane Cruikshank (American football player)
Harvey Guillén (actor)
Ron Husband (animator)
Bill Kilmer (American football player)
Chris Limahelu (American football player)
Lionel Manuel (American football player)
Lynsi Snyder-Ellingson (businesswoman)

Accreditation

Citrus College is accredited by the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges (ACCJC).

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