Santiago Canyon College

An apprentice is someone who is learning a trade by working under the guidance of skilled workers, called journeyworkers. On-the-job training is part of all apprenticeships.  You earn while you learn and are paid a wage from the first day you’re hired. You’re making money at no cost to you for the training.  In addition to the on-the-job training, you will attend related and supplemental instruction in the classroom.

The Apprenticeship Program at Santiago Canyon College, in conjunction with various employers and the Division of Apprenticeship Standards, offers training in the following programs:

Our Apprenticeship Programs range in length from two years to five years. During this time, you will work full-time as a paid apprentice under the supervision of a journeyworker. You will receive raises in pay for each successful completed period of apprenticeship.

You will earn college credit for the related and supplemental classroom instruction you receive. Apprenticeship classes are exempt from regular college tuition and enrollment fees.

Upon successful completion, apprentices become journeyworkers and begin earning the journeyworker wage. You will receive a journeyworker Certificate and Card from the State of California. You may also be eligible for a degree or certificate from Santiago Canyon College.

About Santiago Canyon College

Santiago Canyon College is a dynamic award-winning Southern California Community College within the Rancho Santiago Community College District. From our founding, Santiago Canyon College’s inclusive community continues to redefine the truly student-focused experience. Diverse programs and certification paths, proven transfer successes, and accessible state-of-the-art facilities are just the beginning to us. Attending SCC empowers the individual student to seek the opportunities they deserve and desire, right here, right now.

We start each day by asking a simple question – what can today bring? Proven transfer paths, clear steps toward Associate of Science and Associate of Arts degrees as well as Associate Degrees for Transfer, a wide variety of career technical education certificate programs, engaging adult learning, rich community service opportunities, business skills to stand out – it all happens here every day.

It’s our belief that what you seek later in life is just as important as what you choose to do today. That’s why SCC celebrates what happens here – every course, every lecture, every test, every conversation, every achievement – every day an opportunity we never pass up.

Accreditation/Self Evaluation

ACCJC defines accreditation as ” …the process for evaluating and assuring the quality of education used by the American higher education community. It is a uniquely American quality assurance process through which institutions collectively set standards for good practice, conduct peer-based evaluations of institutions on a regular basis, confer accredited status on institutions, and make the results of accreditation review of institutions known to the public. Through accreditation, the higher education community shoulders the responsibility for monitoring the quality of the programs and services of member institutions.”

Self Study Report and Visit

At its January 2006 meeting, WASC acted to synchronize the comprehensive visits of Santa Ana College and Santiago Canyon College in accordance with the Commission’s practice of scheduling simultaneous visits to colleges in multi-college districts. As a result, Santiago Canyon College completed an abbreviated Self Study Report and was visited by ACCJC representatives in the fall of 2008. Santiago Canyon College then developed a Follow-Up Report at the request of the Commission which was submitted in October 2009. At its January 6-8, 2010 meeting, ACCJC accepted the Follow-Up Report and reaffirmed Santiago Canyon College’s accreditation. A second Follow-Up Report was submitted in October 2010, and was accepted by ACCJC in January 2011.

Subsequently, Santiago Canyon College completed a Midterm Report which was submitted to the Commission in October 2011. The purpose was to assure that the recommendations made by the 2008 evaluation team had been addressed by the institution and that the college had also provided an update on the self-identified plans for improvement which were included in the institutional Self Evaluation. The attached letter from the Commission confirms that SCC sustained the changes implemented to meet the recommendations of the 2008 comprehensive evaluation team and Follow-Up Report.

Beginning in the spring of 2013, Santiago Canyon College began the development of its next self evaluation report in preparation for an accreditation team visit in October of 2014. In January of 2015, the ACCJC again reaffirmed the accreditation status of Santiago Canyon College along with its sister institution, Santa Ana College. ​

Child Development Center Program Accreditation

The SCC CDC has earned accreditation from the National Association of Young Children – the nation’s leading organization of early childhood professionals.  NAEYC Accreditation lets families in our community know that children in our program are getting the best care and early learning experiences.

​​​Similar to a number of California Community Colleges, Santiago Canyon College also grew out of humble beginnings.  Santiago Canyon College’s journey began in 1971 after the Orange Unified School District joined with the Santa Ana Unified School District to create the Rancho Santiago Community College District. Later in that year, supporting their vision for higher education in their community, residents of the City of Orange voted to levy a self-imposed tax to purchase the original 30 acres of land in East Orange that would ultimately become the foundation for Santiago Canyon College.

By 1985, the Rancho Santiago Community College District (RSCCD) developed the land in East Orange to create the Orange Campus. As the second campus in the Rancho Santiago Community College District, the Orange Campus’ first semester saw more than 2,500 eager students take a variety of general education, transfer, and vocational courses. Then, from 1985 to 1996, the Orange Campus experienced tremendous growth as the student population more than doubled. As a result of this veritable growth, the Rancho Santiago Community College District Board of Trustees unanimously voted to change the name of the Orange Campus to Santiago Canyon College and, therefore, created a multi-college structure for the Rancho Santiago Community College District.

After Santiago Canyon College officially came into being, the College became independently accredited in 2000. Since that time, Santiago Canyon College has continued to evolve so as to effectively and innovatively provide an array of educational opportunities to the over 195,000 residents who comprise the eclectic community that encompasses the College.

In addition to Santiago Canyon College’s multiple offerings, the campus’ landscape has also evolved so as to better meet the changing needs of students and community members.   In order to provide students and the surrounding community with the space to embrace their life-long educational pursuits, Santiago Canyon College’s grounds have grown from its earlier 30 acres to 82 acres. In November, 2002, voters in the college district voted to approve Measure E, a $337 million bond measure to provide for renovation and new construction at both Santiago Canyon and Santa Ana colleges.

The campus has undergone a dramatic physical transformation, for Santiago Canyon College has developed its building inventory to 271,138 gross square feet and continues to grow with the recent completion of the Science Center, Humanities Building, Gymnasium, Swimming Pool, and Maintenance and Operations facility. Furthermore, for enhanced usability, the College site has been improved with regard to parking, circulation, and athletic facilities.

Despite its humble beginnings and relative youth, Santiago Canyon College has taken root in its community and, has evolved from a fledging institution to a well-established, respected, and recognized college.  As such, Santiago Canyon College will continue to respond to and celebrate the changing demographics of its vibrant student body as well as of its diverse community. Indeed, Santiago Canyon College will seek to provide a place of learning where future generations have the opportunity to explore varied educational opportunities that enhance their professional and personal lives.