Santa Rosa Junior College: A Century of Community Education

Santa Rosa Junior College (SRJC) is a public community college in Santa Rosa, California, with an additional campus in Petaluma and centers in surrounding Sonoma County. Founded in 1918, Santa Rosa Junior College is the tenth oldest community college in the state. SRJC was planned as a feeder school for the University of California system, a "junior" version of the nearby University of California, Berkeley, with its Bear Cub mascot modeled after UCB's Oski.

A Legacy of Leadership

After just over a century, only six presidents have served SRJC: Floyd P. Bailey (1921-1957), Randolph Newman (1957-1970), Roy Mikalson (1971-1990), Robert F. Agrella (1990-2012), and Dr. Frank P. Chong (2012-2023). In 2023, Dr. Angélica Garcia became the current president.

Campuses and Centers

Santa Rosa Campus

SRJC's main campus is located in central Santa Rosa, 52 miles (84 km) north of San Francisco and has traditional-style ivy-covered brick buildings on 100 acres (0.40 km2). In addition to its administration buildings, classroom facilities, and laboratories, the campus houses a Planetarium, the Robert F. Agrella Art Gallery, and the Frank P. Doyle Library.

Frank P. Doyle Library

In August 2006, SRJC moved its Santa Rosa campus library to the new Frank Pierce Doyle Library building. Named after the college's most significant benefactor, the four-story building is the largest on campus at 145,000 square feet (13,500 m2). It houses the Library, Media Services, Distance Education, and Instructional Computing Departments, as well as the college art gallery, tutorial center and Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning, a multimedia training and production facility for SRJC faculty. The building was constructed with green building features designed to make it energy efficient and environmentally friendly, including an array of 77 KW photovoltaic solar panels on the library roof. Santa Rosa Junior College librarians were leaders in the early movement to promote information literacy in California's community colleges, and SRJC was among the first of the colleges to institute an information literacy requirement for graduation.

Robert F. Agrella Art Gallery

The Santa Rosa Junior College Art Gallery was established in 1973, the first significant exhibition space in the region. The original gallery location was in Bussman Hall on the Santa Rosa Campus, where an old anthropology museum previously existed. In fall 2006, the Art Gallery transitioned to a new space in the Frank P. Doyle Library. The gallery was later renamed in 2012 in honor of the recently retired president of 22 years, the Robert F. Agrella Art Gallery offering exhibits and programs which support the art curriculum, focusing on art history, ceramics, computer graphics, drawing, graphic design, jewelry, painting, photography, printmaking and sculpture. In addition to the Annual Student Show and the occasional Art Faculty exhibits, quality art from outside the area is shown throughout the year.

Multicultural Museum

The college's museum, originally called the Jesse Peter Museum, focuses on the Native American art of North America and ethnographic art of parts of Mesoamerica, Central America, South America, Africa, and Asia. Permanent exhibits include Native American baskets, jewelry and pottery that come from the Elsie Allen Collection, acquired in the 1970s.

B. Robert Burdo Center

The B. Robert Burdo Center is the home of Santa Rosa Junior College's Culinary Arts Program. The two-story, 22,000 square foot building includes three classrooms, and four teaching kitchens, incorporating a public demonstration kitchen. The student-run Café and Bakery is featured on the first floor of the new building.

Petaluma Campus

SRJC began offering evening classes in Petaluma, 35 miles (56 km) north of San Francisco, in 1964, and in the early 1970s held classes in leased spaces throughout the city. In 1985, the Board of Trustees purchased a 40-acre (160,000 m2) site in east Petaluma, and in 1995 the first phase of construction of a Petaluma Center was completed. The Petaluma Center officially became a campus in April 1999. The second phase of construction to expand the Petaluma Campus to a 12,000-student capacity was completed in 2008, and included: life science and physical science labs, an art studio, a new 35,000 square foot library, a physical fitness center, bookstore, student services areas, dining areas, additional classrooms and technology labs, faculty/administrative offices, a digital arts lab, a nearly 300-seat auditorium (Carole L. Ellis Auditorium), and expanded outdoor spaces.

Herold Mahoney Library

The Herold Mahoney Library at SRJC's Petaluma campus originally opened its doors in the Fall of 1995. Many of the programs in SRJC's Arts & Lectures Series take place in the Mahoney Library. With the expansion of the Petaluma campus, the Mahoney Library has expanded to five times its original size, 35,000 sq ft (3,300 m2).

Technology Academy

There is a Technology Academy located on the Petaluma Campus. Opened in January 2009 in Telecom Valley, this educational program was established to meet the training needs of North Bay technology companies, offering classes and training programs to the general public and in-service training for the technology companies.

Read also: Explore Santa Clara University

Robert Shone Farm

Established in 1972, the Robert Shone Farm currently operates as a self-sustaining 365-acre (1.48 km2) farm near the Russian River, in Forestville, generating income from the sale of grapes from the college's vineyard operation as well as oat hay, oat silage, and sheep and swine operations. A new Agriculture Pavilion was completed in 2006. The farm offers diversified, hands-on educational opportunities in Viticulture, Wine Studies, Equine Studies, Animal Science, Sustainable Agriculture, and Environmental Conservation.

Public Safety Training Center

The Public Safety Training Center was established in Windsor in 1961, and currently provides coursework and field training for police officers, corrections officers, police dispatchers, seasonal park rangers, emergency medical technicians, paramedics, and firefighters. In spring 2002 the modern facility was completed on a 20-acre (0.081 km2) site in Windsor to provide in-service training for people working in public safety.

Athletics: Home of the Bear Cubs

Santa Rosa Junior College is home to the Bear Cubs. They are part of the Big 8 Athletic Conference and are well known for their football, baseball, soccer and wrestling programs.

Academics and Student Life

SRJC has a student-faculty ratio of 19-to-1. The highest degree offered at Santa Rosa Junior College is an associate degree. The school has an open admissions policy. Students can earn degrees and certificates in 110 different fields. Popular programs include: Social Sciences, General, Biological and Physical Sciences, and Psychology, General.

SRJC for Free

SRJC for Free is the college's initiative to help students pursue their community college degree, tuition-free. Santa Rosa Junior College believes that all students are entitled to higher education and is dedicated to providing students the opportunity to achieve their educational goals. Second-year students are also now eligible if they were also eligible during their first year.

Doyle Scholarship Program

In addition to the SRJC for Free, the Doyle Scholarship Program provides additional financial assistance to qualified local high school graduates who attend Santa Rosa Junior College. The Doyle Scholarship paired with the rigor and relevance of the courses, often makes SRJC the best choice for many people furthering their education. The Doyle Scholarship is available to students with an unweighted GPA of 2.0 and above.

Dual Enrollment

SRHS is very fortunate that they happen to be located right next door to a nationally renowned Community College, Santa Rosa Junior College. Many students are able to access SRJC while they are still attending high school. These students are referred to as dual enrollment students. You can receive guidance on choosing SRJC classes from your school counselor and Ms. There are SRJC "STEPS TO SUCCESS" that will help students make a smooth transition to the SRJC after graduation from high school. Prior to applying to the SRJC, it is highly recommended that seniors take Counseling 270 at the SRJC during the spring of their senior year. Counseling 270 is a 9 hour introduction to college course which helps students learn about the SRJC and plan their coursework. It also allows for students to have priority registration when signing up for JC classes which means that they can sign up for classes before other students. This is important as classes at the JC fill up quickly.

Campus Atmosphere

Santa Rosa Junior College (SRJC) stands out for its welcoming and supportive environment, which many students appreciate. Reviewers frequently highlight the quality of professors, noting that they are knowledgeable, passionate about their subjects, and genuinely invested in students' success. The campus is often described as beautiful and well-maintained, providing a pleasant setting for both studying and socializing.

Student Perspectives

Students at Santa Rosa Junior College (SRJC) often praise the professors for being passionate, knowledgeable, and genuinely invested in student success. Many highlight that faculty members make classes engaging and foster a supportive learning environment, with some professors being described as exceptionally dedicated and inspiring. This strong faculty involvement helps students feel motivated and connected to their studies.

Additional Information

Admissions & Acceptance

The Santa Rosa Junior acceptance rate is 100%. There is no application fee.

Cost & Tuition

The in-state tuition and fees for 2020-2021 were $1,328, and out-of-state tuition and fees were $8,170.

Financial Aid

At Santa Rosa Junior College, 44 percent of undergraduates receive grant or scholarship aid and the average scholarship or grant award is $3,324.

Graduation Rate & Income

The Graduation Rate is 38%. Median Earnings 5 Years After Graduation $58,892 per year. Employed 1 Year After Graduation 91%.

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