American River College

History

It was originally opened as Grant Technical School in 1942 to aid in the World War II efforts. It was an addition to Grant Union High School, which opened in 1932, and was one-of-five high school aeronautical training programs in the country. In 1945 it became Grant Technical College, and it became American River Junior College (ARJC) in 1955. It moved from the old Grant Tech campus to its current location in 1958, occupying eight newly built office complexes and the original Cameron ranch house. In 1965, the college became a part of the Los Rios Community College District and officially became American River College. Today, along with Cosumnes River College, Folsom Lake College and Sacramento City College, ARC is directed by a seven-member board of trustees elected by voters residing in the district.

The climactic police showdown of the 1986 Emilio Estevez and Demi Moore film Wisdom was filmed on the American River campus, including in and around Beaver Stadium.

During the period of 2004–2013, the college opened a variety of new facilities, including buildings for health education, theater & music, kinesiology, and life science and fine arts. In addition, the college also expanded its bookstore and library and opened a new student center and parking garage. In 2014, the college opened the 19,000 square foot Evangelisti Culinary Arts Center, which houses the college's hospitality management program and student-run Oak Cafe restaurant and bakery. In 2021, the college opened the 57,000 square foot Diane Bryant STEM Innovation Center, which houses a variety of academic programs.

In 2008, the student body association supported California Proposition 8 which sought to restrict marriage to opposite-sex couples. In 2010, the board of trustees lost a lawsuit against the student body association regarding the college's invalidation of their votes for student trustee.

Campus

The college occupies a 155-acre (63 ha) site on the old Cameron Ranch in northern Sacramento County.

Students

The college enrolls about 30,000 full-time and part-time students, making it one of the largest community colleges in California. ARC has published its own literary journal since 1984, the American River Review.

Student life

The campus has its own newspaper, the American River Current, and its own English as a Second Language newsletter, The Parrot.

Athletics

The college athletics teams are nicknamed the Beavers.

Notable people

Lloyd Connelly – California Superior Court judge and former California State Assembly member

Ward Connerly – Former UC Regent and political activist

Wally Herger – Member, United States House of Representatives (California, 2nd Congressional District)

Ewa Klamt – German politician and Member of the European Parliament for Lower Saxony

Adrian Lamo – Former grey-hat computer hacker, key figure in Chelsea Manning case, journalist

Joan Lunden – TV host/personality

Brian Posehn – Comedian, co-star of The Sarah Silverman Program

Anthony Padilla – Co-founder of Smosh

Ian Hecox – Co-founder of Smosh

Anthony Swofford – Author of Jarhead

Richard Trenton Chase – Serial killer

Notable sportspeople

Steve Andrade – professional baseball player

Dusty Baker – professional baseball player and manager

Devontae Booker – professional football player

Dallas Braden – professional baseball player

Jarrett Bush – professional football player

Tony Eason – professional football player

Joseph Fatu, professional wrestler better known by his ring name Solo Sikoa

Robert Hight – professional racecar driver

Steve Holm – professional baseball player

Mike Lincoln – professional baseball player

Don Lofgran – professional basketball player

Jim Loscutoff – professional basketball player

Bill McNulty – professional baseball player

Debbie Meyer – Olympic swimmer

Bob Oliver – professional baseball player

Manny Parra – professional baseball player

John Vukovich – professional baseball player and manager

Gerald Willhite – professional football player