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In 1966, Butte County voters created a local community college district to serve the educational and vocational needs of citizens. In 1967, Butte College began by offering law enforcement, fire science, and vocational nursing classes in various locations throughout Butte County. When the College officially opened its doors to the community in 1968 at the old Durham High School site, it was predicted that 800 students would attend that first fall quarter. But to the surprise of all, over 1900 people enrolled at the new college. In 1974, the College moved from Durham to its present location near the geographic center of Butte County, and in 1975, Glenn County joined the District. Butte College’s history is one of unprecedented growth. This growth stems from offering quality affordable educational courses ranging from basic skills to transfer courses to honors classes, and more than 50 diverse career education programs. Also significant to this growth is a faculty, staff, and administration focused on creating and fostering a culture of student-centered support and success. The campus rests on a 928 acre (3.8 km2) wildlife refuge and was recognized as a national community college leader in sustainability as the grand prize winner of the 2008 National Wildlife Federation's Chill Out Contest: Warming. The college also won the 2009 Award. The college hosts an annual sustainability conference each August to share best sustainable practices among colleges and business owners. Butte College offers its students the largest transportation system in the California Community College system [http://www.butte.edu/sustainability/news/newsitem001.html. Long an advocate of sustainability, Butte College has become (as of May 2009) the largest solarized campus in the state of California with over 45 percent of the campus energized with solar power. With its initial goal to become carbon neutral by 2015 Butte College has become the first grid positive college in the nation. Butte College is committed to maintaining national leadership in sustainability. Because Butte College operates as a small city it has a tradition of environmental stewardship. Butte College became more intentional about sustainability and as part of this effort they've made "Modeling Sustainability" one of the five initiatives in their Plan, signed the Declaration and the Commitment, established a Policy on sustainability, and has become active members in a variety of sustainability-oriented organizations to include the Association for the (AASHE) and the (ACORE). |