Butte College

Butte College is a community college in the Butte-Glenn Community College District which is located in northern California between the towns of Chico, Oroville, and Paradise, about 80 miles (129 km) north of the state capital. The college is a two-year institution fully accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges, with educational centers in Chico and Orland. After the passing of the 1960 Donahoe Act, voters of Butte County created a local community college district in 1966 to serve the educational and vocational needs of its citizens. In 1967, Butte College began by offering law enforcement, fire science, and vocational nursing classes in various locations throughout Butte County. The college officially opened its doors to the community in 1968 at the old Durham High School site, with 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. The campus rests on a wildlife refuge, and has been recognized as a national community college leader in sustainability, winning the grand prize 2008 National Wildlife Federation's Chill Out Contest: and the 2009 National Campus Sustainability Leadership Award. In 2011, Butte College became the largest scolarized campus in the United States with 100% of the campus supplied with solar power, making it the first 'grid-positive' college or university in the country.