Sierra College Timeline

Sierra College Timeline

Since 1936, Sierra College has been an institutional cornerstone of Placer County and a trailblazing community leader. Learn more about Sierra College’s milestones.

Scroll through the entire timeline or go to a particular section.

Origins  –  1930s  –  1940s  –  1950s  –  1960s  –  1970s  –  1980s  –  1990s  –  2000s  –  2010s  –  Gallery of Presidents


Origins

1882   Sierra Normal College is established in Auburn at the site of today’s Placer High School.

1897   Auburn High School is established in the old Sierra Normal College Building. It was a direct outgrowth of Sierra Normal College.

1903   Placer High School District purchases the Normal College grounds and renames the high school. It is now called Placer County High School.

1906   Sierra Normal College building is demolished and replaced with a $40,000 brick structure.

1914   Placer Union High School District is born, stretching from Loomis to Lake Tahoe. College classes are offered at the Placer County High School. The college is called Placer Junior College. It was the indirect descendant of Sierra Normal College, which had given birth to Placer County High School.

1920   Placer Junior College is abandoned due to enrollment loss caused by World War I.

Early twentieth century buildings at the Placer Union High School
Early twentieth century buildings at the Placer Union High School

President, Dr. John Napier (1936-1941)
First President of Placer Junior College (now Sierra College), Dr. John Napier (1936-1941)

1930s

1935   Placer Junior College gained a regional reputation for academic excellence. The scholastic ratings of the university, which ranked the academic achievements of institutions providing students to the university, reinforce the college’s prestige. From 1935 to 1940, one hundred forty nine other schools placed students in UC Berkeley, but Placer College ranked first in academic accomplishment for the period.

1936   Placer Junior College athletes are called “Spartans.” The first graduate of Placer Junior College is a young woman named Marion Sully. About 100 students are enrolled.

1936   Voters agree to re-establish the college in Auburn. The college is called Placer Junior College.

1936   Dr. John Napier named first president (1936-1941)

1936   Three wings of buildings were constructed to serve primarily Placer Junior College, but Placer High School students shared many of the facilities, instructors and organizations with the new college. The entire operating budget of Placer Junior College in its first year was $8,000. Current budget is $75,000,000.

1939   282 students are enrolled. World War II begins.


1940s

1941   The United States enters World War II. John Napier is replaced by Ernest Oertel. The 1941 attack on Pearl Harbor essentially ended enrollment by men as they went off to serve their country during World War II. The war became a daily presence on campus, even while the more light-hearted aspects of college life continued. Additionally, enrollment dropped significantly when Americans of Japanese ancestry were forced into internment camps. By 1943 student population dropped to 53.

1942   Harold Chastain named as president (1942-1948)

1945   As the war neared its conclusion in 1945, enrollment had edged up to 119. The war’s end brought returning veterans, the end of internment, and the GI Bill of Rights. Enrollment in the post-war years exploded as a result.

1946   467 students were enrolled—half were veterans.

1949   856 students were enrolled in 1949 and the Placer College facility was bursting at the seams.

Two people in WWII uniforms at Placer College
Active service members during WWII at Placer College
President, Harold Chastain (1942-1948)
President, Harold Chastain (1942-1948)
President, Harold Weaver (1948-1971)
President, Harold Weaver (1948-1971)

Sierra College students petitioning to pass bonds for school funding in 1958
Sierra College students petitioning to pass bonds for school funding in 1958

1950s

1950   Placer College won the State Championship in Men’s Basketball.

1954   Placer College was renamed Sierra College. The college athletes gained a new nickname – “Wolverines.”

1958    A site selection committee for the new campus was appointed. Thirty-five possible locations were considered until the present Rocklin site was chosen. The location near the Interstate highway then being constructed was a plus, but the land itself was far from inviting. Located on a largely bare knob of decomposed granite, the college site was quickly nicknamed “Sahara College.” Bond issues to fund construction were passed and the Rocklin campus began to emerge.

Timeline Sierra Campus 1960s

Rocklin Campus

The Rocklin campus opened in 1961. Located in the Sierra Nevada foothills of South Placer County, the campus spans 311 acres of land.

1961 map of the Sierra College Rocklin campus

1960s – 1970s

1961    The new Rocklin campus opened and enrollment reached 1,500. Landscaping, under the capable direction of Ted Kitada, turned the campus into a garden.

1962    Nevada County joined a huge new Sierra Junior College District. It began in Roseville… and extended to the beautiful shores of Lake Tahoe. The Sierra Junior College District then had more square miles – 3,200 – than students.

Enrollment boomed in the 1960s. By the end of the decade Sierra College boasted 100 full-time faculty members, nine new campus buildings, and enrollment was nearly 4,000. However, as fast as new facilities could be built, they were filled. The decade saw much student population growth. The student population increased by 45% in 1962 alone. A 32% increase happened the next year. And a 40% boost the next. By the turn of the 1970s, more than 4,000 students were enrolled.

From 1970 to 1980, enrollment jumped from 4,000 to nearly 10,000.

President at Sierra College, William Winstead (1971-1974)
President at Sierra College, William Winstead (1971-1974)
Acting President, Marion Akers (1975)
Acting President, Marion Akers (1975)
President at Sierra College, Gerald Angove (1975-1993)
President at Sierra College, Gerald Angove (1975-1993)


Emblem for Sierra College's 50th Anniversary in 1986
Emblem for Sierra College’s 50th Anniversary in 1986

1980s

1980   Enrollment from 1980 to 1990 jumped from about 10,000 to nearly 14,000. Sierra College extended its own services with the opening of a child care center and expanded course offerings in Nevada County and other satellite centers.

1981   Dick Hilton discovers the first dinosaur bones in Northern California.

1981   Sierra College received national recognition as the Summer training camp of the San Francisco 49ers of the National Football League. From 1981 to 1997, the 49ers trained in Rocklin. Arguably, their best years were a result of their Sierra College experience. The 49ers won five Super Bowls during their stay at the college, and have not won another one since leaving the friendly confines of Sierra College.

1986   Charles Dailey hangs gray whale bones at the Natural History Museum.

1986   Sierra College’s 50th anniversary.

Summer training camp at Sierra College for the San Francisco 49ers
Summer training camp at Sierra College for the San Francisco 49ers (1981-1997)
Dick Hilton, Prominent Paleontologist from Sierra College
Dick Hilton, Prominent Paleontologist from Sierra College
Gray Whale Skeleton at the Sierra College Natural History Museum
Gray Whale Skeleton at the Sierra College Natural History Museum

1990s

1990   The student population from 1990 to the year 2000 swelled from about 14,000 to nearly 18,000.

1990   Sierra College scientific experiments rode on the space shuttle Endeavor.

1993   Kevin Ramirez named as president (1993-2005)

1994   Groundbreaking for NCC campus.

1996   The 105-acre Nevada County Campus was opened. Twelve locations were considered in the county until property between Grass Valley and Nevada City was chosen.

1998   Sierra College Natural History Museum held the first Dinosaur Day.

1999   Sierra won the State Championship in Women’s Basketball.

Groundbreaking at the NCC campus in 1994
Groundbreaking at the NCC campus in 1994
Launch of the Space Shuttle Endeavor
Sierra College partnered with NASA to carry scientific experiments on the Space Shuttle Endeavor in 1990
Sierra College Women's Basketball Team won the State Championship in 1999
Women’s Basketball Team won the State Championship in 1999
President at Sierra College, Kevin Ramirez (1993-2005)
President at Sierra College, Kevin Ramirez (1993-2005)
Timeline Ncc Campus Aerial 1996

Nevada County Campus

The Nevada County campus opened in 1996. Located in the Sierra Foothills in Grass Valley, the campus spans 105 acres of spectacular Sierra pines and landscaping that includes a koi fish pond and flowering trees.

Opening of the Nevada County Campus in 1996
Sierra College Nevada County Campus

2000s

2000   In early 2000s, the Sierra College football team had a nation-leading 37 straight victories and was nationally ranked for years.

2002   Additional centers were opened in the Tahoe/Truckee area and Roseville. And funding was provided for a new library at Twelve Bridges in association with the City of Lincoln and others. Classes were also taught at local high schools and community centers. Bonds were passed to fund additional construction in Truckee and on the Nevada County Campus.

2002   The Sierra College Press was formed to publish the award-winning “Standing Guard: Telling Our Stories” as part of the Standing Guard Project’s examination of Japanese-American Internment during World War II. The Sierra College Press is the first complete academic press operated by a community college in the United States.

2003 Sierra College won the inaugural NATYCA Cup for national athletic excellence.

Sierra College’s reputation continued to grow. The college became a state leader in transfers to the State University and college system. The completion of two-year degrees and certificate programs increased three-fold. In 2005, Sierra College ranked first in California for the awarding of associate degrees and #13 nationally.

2005   The Center for Sierra Nevada Studies is formed, with the extensive involvement of Sierra College, faculty, and staff and the regional community. A Center project, The Sierra Nevada Virtual Museum, is launched. As of November 2006, this award-winning website has had 400,000 visitors from 75 countries on six continents.

2007   Wrestling team wins State Championship.

2007   Women’s tennis wins State Championship.

2008   Baseball team wins State Championship.

2008   Sierra College Tahoe-Truckee Campus opens. The 28,000 square foot “green building” was revealed.

2009   Sierra College’s Truckee campus earns LEED gold. The Tahoe-Truckee Campus of Sierra College was the first community college in California to receive LEED Gold certification.

Book cover of Standing Guard from Sierra College Press
Book cover of the award-winning “Standing Guard: Telling Our Stories” from the Sierra College Press
Interim President at Sierra College, Morgan Lynn (2005-2006)
Interim President at Sierra College, Morgan Lynn (2005-2006)
President at Sierra College, Leo Chavez (2006-2011)
President at Sierra College, Leo Chavez (2006-2011)
Timeline Tt Campus 2008

Tahoe-Truckee Campus

The Tahoe-Truckee campus opened in 2008. Located in the Sierra Nevada mountains. It borders the scenic Lake Tahoe Basin, which is known for its beauty and countless outdoor activities.

Sierra College Tahoe-Truckee Campus
Sierra College Tahoe-Truckee Campus

2010s

2010   The Sierra College Press published The Illuminated Landscape edited by Gary Noy and Rick Heide.

2011   William H. Duncan, IV named as president (2011-present)

2012   Cheer Take First Place in USA Collegiate Championships.

2014   Women’s softball wins the State Championship.

2014   Sierra College starts to offer Bachelor’s Degree in Nursing. In collaboration with California State University, Sacramento, Sierra College started to offer selected Associate Degree Nursing (ADN) students an opportunity to pursue their Bachelor of Science Nursing (BSN) degree concurrently during the ADN program.

2014 Nursing village is moved to Rocklin campus from Roseville Gateway facility.

2014   The Sierra College Press published Sierra Stories: Tales of Dreamers, Schemers, Bigots, and Rogues by Gary Noy, which won the Gold Medal for Best Regional Nonfiction from the Next Generation Indie Book Awards in 2016.

2014   Sierra College Veterans Center Chosen to be the hub for Veterans for an eight-county Small Business Development Center region. Small business development centers provide business counseling services to small business owners—counseling that is critical to driving success in new and existing business ventures.

2014   Sierra College Internship Program Awarded the 2014 College of the Year From the CA Internship and Work Experience Association (CIWEA).

2015   Sacramento State began offering classes at Sierra College. Five upper-division courses are offered at Sierra’s Rocklin campus as part of a growing partnership between Sierra College and Sacramento State.

2015   Hacker Lab opens. Sierra College brought Hacker Lab, a co-working and maker space to the Rocklin community.

2016   Sierra College’s 80th anniversary

President at Sierra College, Willy Duncan (2011-present)
President at Sierra College, Willy Duncan (2011-present)
Nursing Village on Sierra College Rocklin Campus
Nursing Village on Rocklin Campus
Sierra College's 80th Anniversary in 2016
Sierra College’s 80th Anniversary in 2016

2016   Sierra College Natural History Museum ranked 26th in the top 30 higher education natural history museums in the nation by Best College Reviews, a ranking service for American colleges and universities.

2016   Men’s Swimming and Diving team wins State Championship.

2016   First-Ever AFA CyberCamp at Sierra College Nevada County Campus. Sierra College is one of the distinguished organizations across the United States selected to participate in the second season of the Air Force Association’s (AFA) CyberCamp Program.

2016   Nevada County Campus celebrates 20th anniversary.

2016   Sierra Alum, Alex Obert, Named to US Men’s Olympic Water Polo Team. Obert tallied two goals in 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

2016   Student Engagement Center celebrates grand opening.

2016   8,000 community members attended Rocklin Mini Maker Faire and Sierra Celebration at Rocklin Campus.

2016   The Sierra College Press published King Sequoia: The Tree That Inspired a Nation, Created Our National Park System, and Changed the Way We Think about Nature by William Tweed.

2016   Women’s Golf team wins State Championship.

2016   First Sierra Writer’s conference was held. It was a half-day event attended by more than 100 local authors.

2016   Women’s Cross Country returns to Sierra College after 10 years when NCAA All-American Laura Harmon is hired to coach the team.

2017   Sierra College nursing program ranked 6th in the state out of 127 schools.

2017   Sierra College wins $2M award for Innovation in Higher Education from the California Community College Chancellor’s (CCCC) Office for policies to encourage college completion.

2017   Roseville Center opens.

Nevada County Campus 20th Anniversary in 2016
Nevada County Campus 20th Anniversary in 2016
Athletics All Sports Awards 2017
Sierra College ranked 3rd in the state and 1st in Northern California for all sports in 2017

2017   Women’s swim and diving team wins State Championship for the first time.

2017   Gold Rush Stories: 49 Tales of Seekers, Scoundrels, Loss and Luck by Gary Noy released by Sierra College Press.

2017   Sierra College ranked 3rd in the state and 1st in Northern California for all sports by the National Alliance of Two-Year College Athletic Administrators. The ranking is based on points earned through a college’s final position in various sports.

We Continue to Grow, Together With You

Learn more about what's happening at Sierra College today.

Gallery of Sierra College Presidents

President, Dr. John Napier (1936-1941)
President, Dr. John Napier (1936-1941)
President, Harold Chastain (1942-1948)
President, Harold Chastain (1942-1948)
President, Harold Weaver (1948-1971)
President, Harold Weaver (1948-1971)
President at Sierra College, William Winstead (1971-1974)
President, William Winstead (1971-1974)
Acting President at Sierra College, Marion Akers (1975)
Acting President, Marion Akers (1975)
President at Sierra College, Gerald Angove (1975-1993)
President, Gerald Angove (1975-1993)
President at Sierra College, Kevin Ramirez (1993-2005)
President, Kevin Ramirez (1993-2005)
Interim President at Sierra College, Morgan Lynn (2005-2006)
Interim President, Morgan Lynn (2005-2006)
President at Sierra College, Leo Chavez (2006-2011)
President, Leo Chavez (2006-2011)
President at Sierra College, Willy Duncan (2011-present)
President, Willy Duncan (2011-present)