Copper Mountain College (CMC) is a public

community college A community college is a type of educational institution. The term can have different meanings in different countries: many community colleges have an "open enrollment" for students who have graduated from high school (also known as senior se ...

Joshua Tree, California Joshua Tree is a census-designated place (CDP) in San Bernardino County, California, United States. The population was 7,414 at the 2010 census. At approximately above sea level, Joshua Tree and its surrounding communities are located in the High ...

. It was accredited in 2001 as the 108th such institution in the state. CMC offers a total of 24 different certificates and degrees.

History

CMC was originally an offshoot of the

College of the Desert College of the Desert (COD) is a public community college in Palm Desert, California. COD enrolls about 12,500 students, of which around one third attend college full-time. It serves the Coachella Valley of Riverside County. The college is fede ...

. Founded in 1966 for the purpose of providing education opportunities for the surrounding desert communities and families stationed at the 29 Palms Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center, the college held its first courses in classrooms at the 29 Palms High School campus during the fall, 1967 semester. Fundraising for the construction of a stand-alone campus began in 1981, with its first phase completed in 1984. At that time State Senator James Brulte learned of Copper Mountain wanting to achieve community college status he introduced the Copper Mountain Community College District legislation. The Morongo Basin residents endorsed their new college in a 90 percent vote in November 1999. In June 2001, the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges of the Western Association of Schools and Colleges granted CMC full accreditation status.

Athletics

The athletics program launched in 2017 with only basketball. Copper Mountain College competes in Men's and Women's basketball and Women's volleyball in the Orange Empire Conference. The team nickname is the Fighting Cacti. In 2019 Copper Mountain College joined the newly formed Inland Empire Athletic Conference.

Women's basketball

In the 2017-2018 inaugural season, led by coach Hosie Ward they finished 0-23 overall. The current head coach for women's basketball is Ken Simonds, assisted by Johnette Brown. In the 2018–2019 season, led by coach Ken Simonds they finished 11-14 overall, with 6–8 in conference.

Men's basketball

In the 2017-2018 inaugural season, they finished 22-1 overall. In the 2018–2019 season, led by Britain Kelley and Walter Parham, they finished 15-13 overall.

Student Government

The students of Copper Mountain College have established a student body association named Associated Students of Copper Mountain College (ASCMC). The association is required by law to "encourage students to participate in the governance of the college". ASCMC is a voting member of a statewide community college student organization named

Student Senate for California Community Colleges Student Senate for the California Community Colleges (SSCCC) was a task force established in 1988 by the Board of Governors of the California Community Colleges. SSCCC was originally known as the "Council of Student Body Governments" and then la ...

. The statewide Student Senate is authorized by law "to advocate before the Legislature and other state and local governmental entities".

Bud and Betty's Place for Veterans

In November 2015, CMC opened Bud and Betty's Place for Veterans as a center for Students that have served in the armed forces. The center was opened as an extension to the Christine Proudfoot activity center that opened that same year. The center has been named after Retired Col. Bud Garrett and his wife Betty. Col Garrett donated a large sum of money to the center in his wife's honor. Copper_Mountain_College_sign

References

External links

Official website
{{authority control California Community Colleges Schools accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges Educational institutions established in 1966 1966 establishments in California