Activities, Programs & Organizations | Golden West College 2007-2008 Catalog
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The Student Activities Office strives to maximize personal growth and development in students by providing a variety of opportunities for involvement, service and leadership in co-curricular, campus and community activities. In response to the varying needs of the student population, Student Activities recognizes diversity as a core value of our campus community. With an emphasis on academic excellence and student retention, Student Activities supports the academic mission of the college by working to create experiential learning opportunities outside of the classroom and encouraging students to actively participate in the greater educational community as part of the college's fully integrated planning process. The Student Activities Office also oversees the daily operation and of the Student Center and the Student Center Game Room with staffing and maintenance.

Specific service areas include:

• Campus Life — Assist students and staff with planning co-curricular campus activities.
• Housing Referral Service — Rental and roommate listing maintained.
• Student Services — Provides information relating to policies and procedures of Golden West College.
• College Services Charge — Available at registration or in the Admissions & Records Office. This charge provides discounts throughout the year at various campus life events.
• Locker Rental — Low cost locker rentals are available for students in the Student Activities Office.
• Student Council and Senate — Members of the Student Government share active and vital roles in the governance process at Golden West College. Student Council members are elected by the general student body or appointed when vacancies occur. Student Senators have the opportunity to join ASGWC at anytime throughout the year. The Student Senate has five committees: Publicity, Student Interest, Finance, Club West Entertainment, and Broadcasting that assist in the organization and operation of campus programs and events.
• Clubs and Organizations — Serve the interests of the student body, various social, honorary, service, professional, academic, and special interest clubs, organizations, and associations that are active on campus.
• Publicity — Posters and banners are prepared to order for a nominal fee or are free to campus clubs/organizations. Information about the posting policy for GWC can be obtained from the Student Activities Office. The LED Marquee located in the Student Center Patio, is available to post on-campus events and programs.
• Student Participation on College Committees — Students are encouraged to participate in the shared governance process at Golden West College.
• “GWC” Discount Days — Various discount tickets are provided through the Student Activities Office to amusement parks and movie theaters in Southern California.
• Club West Vendor Program — Various discounts are available to staff and students from merchants in the surrounding communities.
• Student Center — Offers a variety of amenities to students, including the Center Café (Food Services), a lounge area with large HD plasma television, Student Information Center, wireless internet access, and an internet café.
• Student Center Stage — Available for student forums, community presentations and small productions.
• For additional information about programs and services, call (714) 895-8261 or stop by Student Activities (2nd floor of Student Center).

The athletic program of Golden West College is coordinated by the Athletic Director. Included in the Physical Education complex are the gymnasium; Community Fitness Center lab including Circuit Training, Cardiovascular and Strength. Outdoor facilities feature a rubberized all-weather track, football field, baseball diamond, softball diamonds, tennis, basketball, sand volleyball, and handball courts, golf utility field, and soccer field. The total complex is complemented by an Olympic-sized, 50-meter pool.

Intercollegiate Athletics
Golden West College is a member of the Orange Empire Conference of the California Community College Association. Member colleges of the conference are Cypress, Fullerton, Irvine Valley, Orange Coast, Santa Ana, Santiago Canyon, Riverside, Saddleback, and Golden West. The College sponsors a full program of intercollegiate athletic competition. In football, the College is a member of the Mission Conference with member colleges comprising the Conference as follows: Cerritos, El Camino, Fullerton, Long Beach, Mt. San Antonio, Orange Coast, Palomar, Pasadena, Rancho Santiago, Saddleback, Riverside, and Golden West. Men’s sports include football, soccer, cross country, and water polo in the fall; and baseball, swimming, track, and volleyball in the spring. Women’s sports include cross country, water polo, soccer, and volleyball in the fall; basketball in the winter; and track, swimming, and softball in the spring.

Athletic Eligibility
To be eligible for intercollegiate participation at Golden West College, student athletes must be enrolled in 12 units of class work. To remain eligible in subsequent semesters, they must satisfactorily complete 24 units between seasons of competition, and maintain a cumulative 2.0 grade point average since the start of the semester/quarter of the first participation. Questions on athletic eligibility should be referred to the Athletic Director.

Recreational Programs
To meet the leisure-time needs of the growing communities served by the college, a number of physical activity facilities are available. They include outdoor sand volleyball courts and the running track which are open to the community year-round as long as their use does not interfere with regularly scheduled classes.

Honors

Golden West College recognizes academic honors through a semester (fall and spring) Academic Honor’s List and an annual acknowledgement of those who graduate with honors.

NOTE: Academic Honors is not formally connected to the GWC Honors Program or the Alpha Gamma Sigma Honor Society.

Eligibility for Academic Honor’s List:

• A 3.5 grade point average in 12 or more units (completed in one semester) in courses evaluated with letter grades.

Eligibility for Graduation with Honors:

• Meet all graduation requirements.
• A 3.5 cumulative grade point average and a minimum of 48 units in courses evaluated with letter grades.

* All graded coursework is included in making this determination.
*Spring grades will not be used in computing the grade point average for the graduation ceremony, but will be used in determining the final grade point average for the diploma.

The primary goal of the Golden West College Honors Program is to challenge highly motivated students through an enriched course of study providing a broader, deeper, more intense academic experience than that offered in the standard curriculum. Honors courses are specially designed sections of transferable courses. The Program leads students to advanced levels of critical thinking, discussion, writing and community involvement. To this end, honors courses develop:

• creative and critical thinking • synthesis and analysis • written and oral communication
• library, internet and technology-related research skills

Honors courses also:

• explore current developments and innovations
• consider global or multicultural perspectives
• encourage experiential and interactive learning
• offer enrichment activities such as guest speakers, plays, art exhibits, etc.
• foster involvement in the community through community service

Honors Program Requirements
Entry Eligibility:

1. A minimum 3.25 cumulative high school GPA, or if already attending college, a 3.0 with 12 transferable units from Golden West College (GWC) or another regionally accredited institution.
2. Eligibility for or successful completion of Freshman Composition: English 100 or 100H. May be determined by English placement results, by prior coursework at GWC or other regionally accredited colleges, or by attaining a score of 3 or higher on the Advanced Placement English (AP) exam.
3. Eligibility for or successful completion of Intermediate Algebra: Math 030. May be determined by math placement results, prior coursework at GWC or other regionally accredited colleges, or by attaining a score of 3 or higher on the Advanced Placement Math (AP) exam. 4. Completion of Honors Program Application and submission of required documentation.

Maintenance:

1. 3.0 cumulative GPA.
2. Completion of English 100H during one’s first year in the Program is recommended (unless English 100 has already been completed).
3. Completion of Humanities 190H with a “C” or better, preferably by the end of one’s first year in the Program.
4. Completion of at least one honors course each semester, earning at least a “C” grade.

Completion Requirements:

1. 3.25 cumulative GPA in all transferable coursework.
2. Completion of at least 18 units of honors classes with a “C” or better in each class. Subject to approval, up to 6 units of honors classes may be accepted from another regionally accredited college.
3. Completion of at least 18 hours of community service. Hours may only be accumulated during participation in the GWC Honors Seminar, Humanities 190H.
4. Membership for a minimum of two semesters in the GWC Honors Program.
5. A grade of “B” or above in English 100H (honors only) or a grade of “C” or above on the Honors Thesis (a brief essay).

Honors Program Benefits:

• Special transfer consideration by institutions with which GWC has honors transfer agreements
• Library privileges at selected local universities and colleges
• Specialized honors counseling
• Honors study center
• Opportunities for special scholarships at GWC and transfer institutions
• Special recognition at commencement ceremonies and on the official transcript
• Opportunities to interact with campus and community leaders
• Enhanced curriculum vitae
• Leadership opportunities

Honors Classes:

Honors classes are open to all students committed to working hard in the pursuit of excellence. Students eager to dedicate themselves to these challenging and enriching classes may enroll in an honors class without joining the Honors Program. The following courses have been approved as Honors Classes. For information about specific honors classes, please see the course description. These courses may not be offered every semester. Art 105H, Art 106H, Biology 100H, Communication Studies 110H, English 100H, English 110H, English 114H, English 160H, English 165H, History 180H, History 185H, Humanities 100H, Humanities 110H, Humanities 120H, Humanities 190H, Music 101H, Physical Sciences 100H, Political Science 120H, Political Science 121H, Political Science 180H, Psychology 100H, Sociology 100H, Spanish 180H, Spanish 185H

To learn how you can benefit from all the opportunities of the complete Program, call the Honors Counselor at (714) 895-8119 or the Honors Program Office at
(714) 892-7711, extension 55230.

Alpha Gamma Sigma, Established in 1922, is California’s Community College Honor Society. The state organization schedules two conferences each year, awards thousands of dollars annually to outstanding AGS honor students and provides a forum for academic excellence, student success and community involvement on the California community college campuses.

Eligibility is based on completing 12 or more graded college units, with a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or better. Membership is renewable each semester. Chapter dues and grade verification are required. Permanent membership is awarded to students completing 60 units, with two semesters of membership, and a cumulative GPA of 3.25 or better. Permanent members receive recognition on their GWC transcript and diploma and at the state level. All graduating members may wear a gold stole at the GWC graduation ceremony. The Sigma Pi Chapter at Golden West College recognizes academic achievement
and promotes scholarship eligibility and transferability to four-year institutions.

Active AGS members practice leadership and organizational skills, initiate service programs for the campus and community, and develop networking, and interpersonal communication skills. Turn in AGS membership application forms, dues and grade verification to the GWC Student Activities Office. Visit the AGS website at www.gwc.info/ags/ or contact faculty advisor Roxie Ross at rross@gwc.cccd.edu

The Intercultural Center at Golden West College is an active education and service center for students, potential students, and members of the surrounding communities. The range of activities include working with local schools and agencies, educational programs and guest speakers and providing general services for students. The center provides information on intercultural events and support services offered by the college as well as by surrounding Orange County communities. For more information, call (714) 895-8906.

One of Golden West’s goals is “to support student success through a campus climate which enhances the development of individual worth and integrity in a diverse society.” The Intercultural Center serves as a vital entity in the fulfillment of this goal as it promotes better understanding, appreciation and communication among those of different languages, religions, ethnicity, cultural traditions and national backgrounds. Support services are also provided for students enrolled at the college.

The Peace Studies Program is a learning community program for students who are concerned about issues of peace, conflict and justice in contemporary society and in the global community, and who wish to develop skills to promote peace and implement constructive conflict management practices within their lives, families, communities, and diverse local and international social systems. Participants in this program will be qualified to find career opportunities in government service, non-governmental organizations, and to pursue further professional studies in the fields of law, management, public policy, international business, education and
environmental studies.

All students are eligible to enroll in the GWC/Peace Studies Program. Once enrolled in this program, students will receive continuous academic guidance and will take advantage of the counseling and mentoring available while enrolled at Golden West College.

Eligibility:

All students in good standing are eligible to enroll if they meet the following requirements:
Completion and submission of the Peace Studies application form.
Enrollment in the program is on a first-come, first-serve basis.
Interest in the mission and goals of the Peace Studies Community-based Service Learning Program

Benefits:

1. Academic Guidance and Counseling
2. Experience through internships/practicum
3. Career development and specialization
4. Fluid college transfer
5. Peace Approach to conflict management
6. Applicability throughout cross-cultural disciplines
7. Transformative identity: reflective and participatory
8. Global awareness, cooperation and interdependence, social and ecological responsibility