San Joaquin Delta College

History

Situated in North Stockton at 5151 Pacific Avenue, The San Joaquin Delta College (SJDC) two-year college sits on around 165 acres of prime land directly across the street from two major shopping malls. Virtually 19,000 students attend the college which offers associate degree programs (AA) and additionally provides certificate programs featuring 139 major study areas.

San Joaquin Delta College is the successor of the Stockton Junior College that formed in 1935. The success of the operation was so notable that the College of the Pacific, now University of the Pacific, abandoned freshmen and sophomore instruction in 1936, bequeathing all instruction to the junior college. The two institutions shared facilities through World War II, when the junior college added another unique, although temporary, feature: running an aviation school in Nevada. Stockton Junior College became Stockton College in 1948, with the total student body at just under 2,000. The physical change was even more evident, with classes being moved to a 43-acre site just south of College of the Pacific. The educational pattern also changed, as the Stockton School System restructured into six years of elementary instruction, four of junior high, and four combining the junior and senior years of high school with the freshman and sophomore years of college.

When San Joaquin Delta College was formed in 1963, it was simply a separation of Stockton College from Stockton Unified by expanding into an area-wide college district under its own governing board and an expanded revenue base.

First San Joaquin Delta College Campus on the Old Stockton Junior College site

As part of the unified school district, Stockton College was essentially a small part of a much larger entity. Faced with expanding enrollment and a limited revenue base due to the low property valuations in Stockton, its governing board was hard-pressed to satisfy all of the needs of the district. One of the decisions reflecting this problem occurred in 1949 when the school board placed 11th and 12th grade students on the Stockton College campus. High schools became junior high schools and K-8 elementary schools became K-6 schools. Whether it was educationally sound or not was never the consideration; the district needed the space.

First San Joaquin Delta College Campus on the Old Stockton Junior College site

The decision hurt the college. Stockton College had long been in a joint relationship with College of the Pacific, and the senior college helped to engender a collegiate atmosphere appealing to students and to faculty. The presence of the high school students chilled relations with Pacific, and the junior college took on a high school atmosphere.

Even though standards were maintained in existing programs, there was virtually no chance to expand into new programs, and it appeared to faculty and staff that the college was being degraded. Dr. Burke Bradley, who was named president of the college in 1956, was among those who believed the college was being diminished. His service dated back to the 1940s and included many years as vice-president. His years of administrative experience left him with the conviction that the college would never properly develop until it was able to operate as a totally independent district.

Talk of forming a junior college district had become more frequent around 1950. The school board heard reports that the campus would not accommodate anticipated enrollment in the immediate future. That fact led to discussion of whether to sell the campus to the College of the Pacific and build a new campus, or retain the old campus and add a second campus. The school board even spoke of forming of a new college district.

Despite formation of a new college district by the voters in September of 1962, students remained enrolled in Stockton College until June of 1963. Graduates that year were the last students to be awarded a Stockton College diploma. On July 1, San Joaquin Delta College started its first academic year

The old state hospital site at Pacific & Yokuts was eventually chosen to become the location for San Joaquin Delta College’s new campus.  Note the Weberstown Mall on the right. Many remember the old GEMCO department store, which is now the TARGET store. (1970)

Academics

Additionally, SJDC provides a number of community education courses without credit for people in age brackets in the form of seminars, workshops, and training. There are also online classes, plus a high school curriculum where students attend classes providing college course credit to assist them in getting a head start on a college education.

Accreditations for SJDC is provided by the Western Association of Schools & Colleges (WASC).

Admissions

SJDC attendance, prospective students should do the following:

• Submit an application either in person or online, by completing and tendering an admissions form.
• Make an appointment to sit for the college assessment exam
• Attend an orientation class
• If necessary, make an application for financial aid

Potential students with an interest in visiting the SJDC campus prior to applying for admission, may schedule an onsite campus tour by completing a request form online form or by getting in touch with the Outreach & Community Relations department.

Financial Aid

Students

As a student there are a numbers opportunities to become involved in campus activities. Well over 30 organizations and clubs exist. there is an InterClub Council (ICC) , on-campus food services, , intercollegiate sports, plus a flea market operated on weekends during the entire school year which is operated by the Associated Student Body Government (ASBG).

Many services for students are provided by SJDC including disability services, free tutoring, services, computer labs, counseling services, library and a student bookstore .

Campus Images

Student Services Building

Athletics

Some past SJDC athletic achievements include 2nd place state finish for the men’s baseball team, being named the Northern California top Team. The Lady Mustangs’ basketball lineup accomplished a number of achievements including Runner Up in the California State Championship, Conference Champs, Elite 8, Final Four, including Northern Section Champions.

Related Articles

• Stockton Articles